'It's not the world's most beautiful building' so $64 million to transform Aotea Centre

The plans include bronze-coloured stainless steel cladding for the auditorium and a green roof - which could include native plantings and a cafe with views of Aotea Square.

Auckland's Aotea Centre looks set to receive a $64 million facelift and extension in a boost to the city's arts scene.

The performing arts and events centre, which opened its doors 25 years ago on Wednesday and cost $128.5 million to build, is one of four development sites the council is seeking public input on to breathe new energy into Aotea Square.

And Auckland received another boost today with the announcement that the Laneway Festival will again be held at Silo Park in Wynyard Quarter next year.

The Herald reported last month that the country's largest urban music festival was in the path of development at Wynyard Quarter and could be lost to the city.

Auckland Live director Robbie Macrae, who is responsible for live events and performances, said wear and tear had taken a toll on the Aotea Centre. "It's not the world's most beautiful building."

The roof needs to be replaced and the building reclad and the council's regional facilities agency is using it as an opportunity to put a business case for pushing out at the back of the centre.

The plans include bronze-coloured stainless steel cladding for the auditorium and a green roof - which could include native plantings and a cafe with views of Aotea Square.

The three other proposed developments are refurbishment of the soon-to-be heritage-listed Civic Administration Building and carpark sites alongside Bledisloe House and behind the Auckland Town Hall.

Mr Macrae said the land at the back of the Aotea Centre had always been earmarked for expansion. The intention was to create additional studio and rehearsal space to accommodate the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra (APO), New Zealand Opera, Black Grace Dance Company and the Royal New Zealand Ballet, which is keen to spend several months based in Auckland.

"It would become a high performing training centre for the performing arts and entertainment with a very strong youth focus," Mr Macrae said.

The plan was to make the Aotea Centre accessible 24 hours a day, triple attendance figures and able to self-fund running costs.

Mr Macrae said Regional Facilities Auckland had funding in the council's 10-year budget for the estimated $64 million project, which he said "would do us for 50 years".

APO chief executive Barbara Glaser said the council vision for the Aotea Quarter was "fabulous and we want to be part of it".

It provided the opportunity for the city's orchestra - 72 players and 28 administrative staff - to move from three buildings in Dominion Rd to a purpose-built rehearsal studio at the Aotea Centre, which she said was going to become a great collaborative space for many art forms.

Royal New Zealand Ballet managing director Amanda Skoog welcomed the opportunity to use the Aotea Centre as a second home to Wellington, saying the company could extend the current three weeks spent in Auckland to a couple of months.

"It's our biggest market, but our audiences in Auckland don't get the same experiences. We would have rehearsal studios and could have some rehearsing time leading up to an opening and give the public the opportunity to see the process."