Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts - University of Waikato

The Academy likes to describe itself in double-bangers. It is purpose-built, multiple-purpose, award-winning, academic-community centre. But to the eye of the visitor it is more of a triple treat as the trio of theatre spaces are all defined externally as well as internally and all lake-facing, thanks to the work of architects Warren and Mahoney.
The centre's assets are the Concert Chamber is a fixed-tier auditorium, the Playhouse Theatre can be used in a variety of configurations and also hosts dinners and functions, and the third space is the Calder & Lawson Art Gallery and cafe. Outside is the Lake Stage, a warm-weather venue.
The result of all this design and collaboration is an impressive 30,000 visitors through the door every year, exactly the intention of the designers, the stakeholders Hamilton City Council, and the owners, the University of Waikato, who formed the community-university umbrella alliance over the centre in 1998. This is the venue for the Waikato writer-in-residence programme.