ROXY THEATRE

With its almost 90 year history as a Parramatta icon, the Roxy Theatre will become the centrepiece of the Civic Link, Council’s proposed connection between the Parramatta Square Civic Centre and the River Precinct.

The Roxy has had many lives, as a grand cinema in the 1930’s, to a multiplex in the 1970’s and most recently as a restaurant, nightclub and entertainment venue in the 2000’s. It now sits vacant, awaiting a new purpose.

This recently submitted proposal for a concept DA prepared by Urbis and RAAarchitects has capitalised on the need to reinvigorate and reinvent the Roxy building. Its location at the centre of the commercial core of the city was the trigger to investigate the potential to utilise its iconic status and develop a mixed use tower at the rear of the site that would ensure the ongoing economic viability of the Roxy as a social and cultural hub.

The 33 storey tower is a five level entertainment, performance and function centre in the podium, anchored by the restored Roxy auditorium, with a 29 level commercial office building above.

This is a Concept DA proposal which looks at the critical elements of the site and its surroundings and proposes a simple reference design that demonstrates how a tower can respect and further improve the functional and social aspects of the Roxy as a vital part of the City of Parramatta.