The undulating design of the building is intended to honour the original Aboriginal inhabitants of Brisbane, the Turrbal and Yuggera peoples. Arranged in layers, the NPAV has the auditorium at its heart, encased in a concrete shell that builds on the legacy of the pre-existing 1986 modernist building. Rippled glass is wrapped around this core, inspired by the movement and flow of the Brisbane River.

A short prose poem by Indigenous artist Aunty Lilla Watson conveying the spirit of the river was a key reference. Inside, the theatre’s warm timber, deep green seating and carpet, and black timber battens and panels celebrate the lush forests of Queensland.

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