National Dance Theatre – Detailed Construction Design

The new home of the National Dance Theatre was created in Budapest’s Millenáris Park through the conversion and extension of a former industrial building belonging to the Ganz factory. The aim of the development was to establish a modern, multifunctional cultural centre providing suitable facilities for dance performances, rehearsals and community events, while preserving the building’s industrial heritage.

Working alongside the architectural design team of ZDA – Zoboki Architecture Office, we prepared detailed construction designs across five engineering disciplines. Our responsibilities included mechanical, electrical, low-current systems, structural and geotechnical design. Our engineers contributed to the conversion of the existing industrial building, the development of new building sections and the technical implementation of specialised theatre functions.

One of the building’s most distinctive structural features is the smaller auditorium suspended above the spacious, column-free foyer, supported by a reinforced concrete structure weighing approximately 1,500 tonnes. The building houses a flexible main auditorium with 368 seats, a smaller auditorium accommodating 120 people, rehearsal studios, a chamber hall and modern technical support facilities. The combination of different functions, long-span structures and complex mechanical, electrical and low-current systems required close coordination between the engineering disciplines.

With its new glazed main façade and multifunctional foyer, the renovated building establishes a direct connection with Millenáris Park. The adaptive reuse of the former industrial hall made it possible to preserve the building’s original character while introducing modern cultural functions. The National Dance Theatre has become one of Budapest’s leading performing arts and community venues. Its architectural and technical achievements have also been recognised with a Construction Excellence Award and a FIABCI real estate development award.