The countdown is over - City of Parramatta's bold new community, cultural and civic hub PHIVE, at 5 Parramatta Square, is officially open.
With its vibrant red and orange tessellated roof, PHIVE is an eye-catching architectural icon with world-class facilities for the community to explore and enjoy in the heart of the Parramatta CBD.
Spread across six levels, the $136 million centre boasts a new library, maker spaces, tech labs and sound studios for learning, innovating and creating. It also houses community meeting rooms, visitor services and the new Council Chambers.
To celebrate, there will be more than 100 free activities as part of a huge opening weekend program - from First Nations cultural programs, to live performances, kid's silent disco and an opening exhibition, Green Thumbs Blue Ribbons, to mark 200 years of the Royal Agricultural Society in Parramatta.
City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Donna Davis said PHIVE is the brilliant, bold centrepiece of Parramatta Square's $2.7 billion transformation - a place for communities to discover and explore.
"We are proud PHIVE has arrived - a landmark addition to our City," Cr Davis said.
"Parramatta's dazzling new building has been years in the making, and we are so delighted PHIVE is now open for everyone to enjoy. This space has been designed with and for our communities in mind - to connect, collaborate and enjoy cultural experiences.
Come and say hi to PHIVE - a place to find local services, create in our maker spaces and sound labs, or meet your friends for a coffee or bite to eat. It's Parramatta's new living room, right in the heart of our bustling CBD."
Cr Davis said PHIVE reflects our City's diverse communities and rich First Nations history.
"PHIVE is a much-needed community facility that will service the needs of the region's rapidly-growing population. It's important we have accessible, state-of-the-art facilities to support the people who live, work, study or visit Parramatta. We invite locals and visitors to come along to our fantastic free Open House weekend to explore, be entertained, learn something new and have fun."
More than 100 workshops, live performances and cultural discovery experiences kick off PHIVE's free Open House weekend on 24 and 25 September. The opening weekend will be followed by an action-packed school holiday program of over 70 events from 26 September to 9 October.
The building was designed by a team led by award-winning French architect Manuelle Gautrand in partnership with Ms Gautrand's French firm and Australian architecture firms Lacoste+Stevenson and Design Inc, represented by Richard Does and Thierry Lacoste.
Constructed by Australian group Built, the building seamlessly connects with the original heritage-listed Parramatta Town Hall. As part of its state-of-the art 'smart' design, the building includes a ventilation system that responds to weather conditions.
