The Capitol Theatre is slated to reopen mid next year after a five-year hiatus. The revamped space will serve as a temporary home for the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) while the Federation Square museum is closed for renovations of its own.

The stunning theatre was designed by architects Walter and Marion Griffin and completed in 1924. The building’s Chicago-esque style featured distinctive grid windows, steel frames and masonry cladding in its iconic facade. RMIT acquired the Capitol in 1999, but closed the doors in 2014 to renovate. Now, the foyer is being restored, and its sound system, projectors and lights are being upgraded. The ornamental ceilings are also being restored.

Once complete, the new theatre will have a 580-person capacity and will temporarily host the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF), The Japanese Film Festival and the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, as well as providing a research and innovation hub for students and the industry. Blending old and new, the theatre will be used for virtual and augmented reality, animation and live editing in addition to screening films.

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The Capitol Theatre will reopen at 113 Swanston Street, Melbourne in mid-2019.