A Wanganui firm has won the $1 million contract to upgrade the Royal Wanganui Opera House.
W&W Construction 2010, based in Heads Rd, will undertake the earthquake-strengthening work, which will begin next month.
Wanganui District Council deputy property manager Leighton Toy said yesterday that it was great to have awarded the contract to a local company.
"We look forward to working alongside W&W Construction over the next six months," he said.
The total cost of the work is $965,984, which includes $648,984 for the seismic upgrade.
Mr Toy said the scope of the project had been increased to allow for additional foundation capacity, fire compliance work and roof replacement.
Seating refurbishment work will also be completed during this period with a contractor to be appointed soon.
The earthquake-strengthening will bring the iconic building up to a level greater than 33 per cent of the New Building Standard (NBS), which is required by legalisation.
The Opera House currently has a 10 per cent rating.
The fire compliance and roof replacement work makes up the balance of the contract, while the orchestra pit will also be extended.
"The scope of the foundation capacity has been increased so, if there is a requirement in the future to increase the NBS rating to 67 per cent or greater, the structural work will already have been done," Mr Toy said.
Glenn Wadsworth, owner of W&W, was delighted to have won the contract and said it was nice to be working on one of Wanganui's landmark buildings.
He added that a lot of local subcontractors would also be part of the team.
The upgrade will be done in two stages - from May 4 to August 31 and then from October 19 to December 4.
The Opera House will be closed during those times but will be open for the Russian National Ballet Theatre's production of Swan Lake on September 5 and Sleeping Beauty on September 6.
W&W Construction - which employs around 35 staff - is also working on a substantial upgrade at Whanganui Prison and other projects include the Collegiate School science block, the Z service station and Wanganui Post Shop upgrade.
The company has a 25-year history, starting as Wells & Wadsworth before changing in 2010 to W&W Construction.