The National Opera House by Keith Williams Architects with the OPW, was Ireland’s most important cultural project of first decade of the 21st century. Constructed in the heart of the medieval Wexford, the 7,235m2 building contains the main auditorium (780 - 840 seats), full flytower and backstage and a transformable studio theatre (175 seats), together with rehearsal, production facilities, bars, café and foyer spaces. Built primarily for Wexford’s autumn international opera festival, the opera house operates year round for additional Wexford Festival productions and visiting companies. The multi-award winning building was opened by Brian Cowen TD An Taoiseach on 5 September 2008, whilst the first opera took place on 16 October 2008 with a performance of Rimsky-Korsakoff’s Snegourchka. Client Testimonial “the building has also been highly commended by audiences, artists and critics for its excellent acoustic, superb staging and production facilities, and its very relaxing and comfortable ambience”. “We continue to be impressed by the vision, ingenuity and creativity which Keith Williams Architects brought to the design and construction of Wexford Opera House”. David McLoughlin : Chief Executive, Wexford Festival Opera