Construction has begun on the £117m Kilden performing arts centre in the southern Norwegian city of Kristiansand.

The 160,000m2 facility, designed by Finnish firm ALA Architects, includes a 1,200-seat concert hall and 700-seat theatre. It will house the Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra, an opera company and local theatre groups. Construction is expected to complete in 2011. WSP Multiconsult is structural engineer and Arup Acoustics acoustics engineer.