Wales Millennium Centre

Wales Millennium Centre
The Armadillo
Location	Cardiff Bay, Cardiff, Wales
Coordinates	51°27′54.14″N 3°9′48.72″W / 51.4650389°N 3.1635333°W
Owner	Phase 1: Wales Millennium Centre; Phase 2: Lime Property Fund (Aviva Investors)
Operator	Phase 1: Wales Millennium Centre; Phase 2: BBC
Type	Company limited by guarantee
Capacity	Donald Gordon Theatre: 1,897; BBC Hoddinott Hall: 350; Weston Studio Theatre: 250; Cabaret: 140; Grace Williams Studio: 60
Construction
Broke ground	February 2002
Opened	Phase 1: 26–28 November 2004; Phase 2: 31 January 2009
Renovated	2022/3 (Phase 1 Refurbishment)
Construction cost	Phase 1: £106.2 million; Phase 2: £18 million; Phase 1 Refurbishment: £4 million
Architect	Phase 1: Jonathan Adams (Percy Thomas Partnership); Phase 2: Tim Green and Keith Vince (Capita Percy Thomas); Phase 1 Refurbishment: Richard H Powell (interior designers)
Structural engineer	Arup Group
Main contractors	Sir Robert McAlpine
Tenants
	Arts Council of Wales; Literature Wales; National Dance Company Wales; Hijinx Theatre; Two Rhythms; Tŷ Cerdd – Music Centre Wales; Urdd Gobaith Cymru; Welsh National Opera; BBC National Orchestra of Wales;
Website
	www.wmc.org.uk
Building details
Technical details
Material	4,500 tonnes of structural steel; 2,000 tonnes of recycled Welsh slate (cladding)
Floor count	6
Floor area	37,000 m2 (400,000 sq ft)
Lifts/elevators	2
Other information
Public transit access	Cardiff Bay; BaycarCardiff Waterbus

Wales Millennium Centre (Welsh: Canolfan Mileniwm Cymru) (WMC) is Wales' national arts centre located in the Cardiff Bay area of Cardiff, Wales.^[7]^[8] The site covers a total area of 4.7 acres (1.9 ha).^[9] Phase 1 of the building was opened during the weekend of 26–28 November 2004 and phase 2 opened on 22 January 2009 with an inaugural concert.

The centre is Cardiff's principal receiving venue for large-scale opera, ballet, contemporary dance and musicals. It comprises a large theatre and two smaller halls with shops, bars and restaurants. It houses Wales' national orchestra and opera, dance, theatre and literature companies, a total of eight arts organisations in residence.^[4]

The main theatre, the Donald Gordon Theatre, has 2,497 seats, and is the second largest stage in Europe.^{[citation needed]} The BBC Hoddinott Hall seats 350 and the Weston Studio Theatre seats 250.^[10]

In 2001 Lord Rowe-Beddoe was appointed chair of Wales Millennium Centre, a company limited by guarantee. Peter Swinburn is the current chair of Wales Millennium Centre.^[11]

^ ^a ^b Cite error: The named reference Cost was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ "Wales Millennium Centre – A landmark building for the performing arts in Wales". National Assembly for Wales. Archived from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Design Unveiled for £4 Million Major Refurb at Wales Millennium Centre". businessnewswales.com. 30 September 2022. Archived from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
^ ^a ^b "Resident Organisations – Organisations working within Wales Millennium Centre". Wales Millennium Centre. Archived from the original on 16 February 2009. Retrieved 23 January 2009.
^ Cite error: The named reference GWS was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ ^a ^b "Wales Millennium Centre (WMC), Cardiff, Wales". worldconstructionnetwork.com. 16 March 2005. Archived from the original on 24 April 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
^ Phillips, Lauren (5 October 2022). "First look inside Wales Millennium Centre's huge multi-million pound refurbishment". www.walesonline.co.uk. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
^ Gavin (1 August 2022). "Wales Millennium Centre Launch Immersive And Extended Reality Arts Venue". GTFM. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
^ Cite error: The named reference Sell was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ "Function rooms". Wales Millennium Centre. Archived from the original on 23 October 2007. Retrieved 4 March 2008.
^ "Former boss of one of the world's biggest brewing firms the new chair of the Wales Millennium Centre". Media Wales. 21 February 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2023.

[Cost-1] Cite error: The named reference Cost was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[2] "Wales Millennium Centre – A landmark building for the performing arts in Wales". National Assembly for Wales. Archived from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2009.

[RefirbBNW-3] "Design Unveiled for £4 Million Major Refurb at Wales Millennium Centre". businessnewswales.com. 30 September 2022. Archived from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2023.

[Tenants-4] "Resident Organisations – Organisations working within Wales Millennium Centre". Wales Millennium Centre. Archived from the original on 16 February 2009. Retrieved 23 January 2009.

[GWS-5] Cite error: The named reference GWS was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[WCNet-6] "Wales Millennium Centre (WMC), Cardiff, Wales". worldconstructionnetwork.com. 16 March 2005. Archived from the original on 24 April 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.

[NatArt-7] Phillips, Lauren (5 October 2022). "First look inside Wales Millennium Centre's huge multi-million pound refurbishment". www.walesonline.co.uk. Retrieved 31 May 2023.

[GTFM-8] Gavin (1 August 2022). "Wales Millennium Centre Launch Immersive And Extended Reality Arts Venue". GTFM. Retrieved 31 May 2023.

[Sell-9] Cite error: The named reference Sell was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Function-10] "Function rooms". Wales Millennium Centre. Archived from the original on 23 October 2007. Retrieved 4 March 2008.

[Swin-11] "Former boss of one of the world's biggest brewing firms the new chair of the Wales Millennium Centre". Media Wales. 21 February 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2023.

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Construction
The Armadillo



Location	Cardiff Bay, Cardiff, Wales
Coordinates	51°27′54.14″N 3°9′48.72″W / 51.4650389°N 3.1635333°W / 51.4650389; -3.1635333
Owner	Phase 1: Wales Millennium Centre Phase 2: Lime Property Fund (Aviva Investors)^[1]
Operator	Phase 1: Wales Millennium Centre Phase 2: BBC
Type	Company limited by guarantee
Capacity	Donald Gordon Theatre: 1,897 BBC Hoddinott Hall: 350 Weston Studio Theatre: 250 Cabaret: 140^[3] Grace Williams Studio: 60^[5]
Broke ground	February 2002
Opened	Phase 1: 26–28 November 2004 Phase 2: 31 January 2009
Renovated	2022/3 (Phase 1 Refurbishment)
Construction cost	Phase 1: £106.2 million^[2] Phase 2: £18 million^[1] Phase 1 Refurbishment: £4 million^[3]
Architect	Phase 1: Jonathan Adams (Percy Thomas Partnership) Phase 2: Tim Green and Keith Vince (Capita Percy Thomas) Phase 1 Refurbishment: Richard H Powell (interior designers)^[3]
Structural engineer	Arup Group
Main contractors	Sir Robert McAlpine
Tenants
Arts Council of Wales Literature Wales National Dance Company Wales Hijinx Theatre Two Rhythms Tŷ Cerdd – Music Centre Wales Urdd Gobaith Cymru Welsh National Opera BBC National Orchestra of Wales^[4]
Website
www.wmc.org.uk
Building details
Technical details
Material	4,500 tonnes of structural steel 2,000 tonnes of recycled Welsh slate (cladding)
Floor count	6^[6]
Floor area	37,000 m² (400,000 sq ft)^[6]
Lifts/elevators	2
Other information
Public transit access	Cardiff Bay Baycar Cardiff Waterbus