Gwangju’s City of Light Civic Culture Hall Completed

- 715-seat performance venue featuring optimized sight-lines, on the site of the old Gu-dong gym

Situated on the site of the old Gu-dong gymnasium near Gwangju Park, the City of Light Civic Culture Hall is a new attractive addition to the city.

According to Gwangju City, the Civic Culture Hall was constructed, following the demolition of the aged Gu-dong gymnasium, to offer residents the opportunity to enjoy various kinds of high-quality performances and culture.

Construction of the new hall began in November 2008, and was completed within just 15 months. The project’s total cost was 50.5 billion won, of which 16 billion came from national government, and 34.5 billion from local government. The completed venue covers a land area of 5,448 sq m and contains 14,049 sq m floor space, comprising 2 basement floors and 4 above-ground floors.

The construction utilized both ‘turn-key’ and CM building methods, which, coupled with the high-technology used during construction, helped reduce both the construction cost and timescale.

In addition, throughout the process of design and construction, consultation with Construction Planning Consultation Committee, and the Design Commissioner, ensured overall high quality, and that the space was well used, for efficiency, and the convenience of users.

Of note, the seating arrangements in the main performance venue were changed to a grid pattern (as opposed to standard straight-line pattern) in order that viewing sight lines be optimized. The venue also boasts a high-quality finishing materials, and a smooth circulation system.

The main facility consists of car-parking space and storage in the first and second basement floors, whilst the first floor contains exhibition space, promotion room, performance room, dressing rooms and cafeteria. The second floor has rehearsal and practice rooms.

The third floor is home to offices and rest areas, whilst the fourth floor contains three classrooms, to be used for various culture classes available for local residents, and a conference room which can be used for seminars and workshops etc.

The performance hall has seating for 540 spectators on the first floor, plus a further 175 seats on the upper level, bringing the total capacity to 715. This venue is expected to be suitable for concerts, traditional music performances, small-scale musicals, dance and so on.

Ahead of the opening on the 22nd, Gwangju City is having a trial-run of each operating section, (such as electricity, stage, fire, machinery etc) so that the operating systems will run smoothly.

“Now that the Civic Culture Hall has opened, alongside the Asian Multi-culture Community Park currently under construction, Gwangju City will improve the environment near Gwangju Park, and offer residents a place for resting and to enjoy various culture,” said a City official. “Along with the Asian Multi-culture Community Park which will open in the future, they will meet the cultural needs of residents and improve their quality of life.”