Reconstruction and Enlargement, or simply put, Upgrading and Extending the Existing Structure. - Major undertaking: Salzburg Festival delving into the mountains
The Salzburg Event is expanding its premises by 10,000 square meters over the upcoming years, growing its size by more than a quarter. The renovation and expansion project, which has an estimated budget of approximately 400 million euros by 2031, will commence in early September, directly after this year's music and theater event.
To make room, among other things, the Mönchsberg will be further excavated, as indicated by Lukas Crepaz, the commercial director of the event, to the German Press Agency.
Performance venues and facilities are currently located on and within this mountain. For instance, the Felsenreitschule, which was utilized as a quarry and for animal performances in previous centuries, now serves as a stage for operas and concerts.
Performance venues "pushing their limits" due to climate change
A scene construction hall is planned to be built in the Mönchsberg starting from 2026. If it were constructed further away on a green field, it would result in soil sealing and environmentally harmful truck deliveries, argues Crepaz. As part of the expansion project, space will also be created for currently lacking rehearsal rooms and workshops.
First on the agenda, however, is the construction of a visitor center and a new cooling system to maintain tolerable temperatures during performances. "Due to climate change and the obvious increase in extreme heat days, we have already reached our limit," says Crepaz.
Other than that, the Large Festival Hall will be revamped, and the outdated event operating technology will be upgraded. Temporary substitute stages are still being sourced.
From 263 to 400 million
The project is being funded by the city and state of Salzburg, as well as from the Austrian federal budget.
According to calculations by the Chambers of Commerce, the Salzburg Event generates an annual added value of 250 million euros in Austria. Taxes and levies amount to 96 million euros. "The investment has paid for itself within five years," says Crepaz.
Originally, costs of around 263 million euros were anticipated, but due to inflation, this has increased to 400 million euros - and that's not all. From 2031 onwards, the Felsenreitschule and the Mozart House are to be renovated in a subsequent phase, but no cost estimate is available for this yet.
The expansion of The Salzburg Event includes plans for constructing a scene construction hall within the Mönchsberg, aiming to prevent soil sealing and environmentally harmful truck deliveries. The Felsenreitschule, a historical performance venue within the event, will undergo renovations as part of the project.
