Space for Creativity – The New Workshop Building

As part of the opera's renovation, a new workshop building is also being developed. The Württembergische Staatstheater's decoration workshops will relocate to the site of the former sugar factory in Bad Cannstatt, establishing an optimal connection to the existing scenery storage facility located there.

At the new location, the workshops will be equipped to modern technical standards. This will facilitate efficient operational workflows and ensure sustainable theater operations.

The new workshops consolidate all trades essential for stage design under one roof. This includes the paint shop, where large-format stage backdrops – known as 'Prospekte' – are produced. These are first assembled from fabric panels in the sewing room. Furthermore, the plastic arts and sculpture workshops, along with the decoration department, collaborate with the carpentry, metalworking, and paint shops on the three-dimensional stage constructions.

Within the assembly hall, which matches the dimensions of the stage, all components of a stage set can be integrated. Consequently, the new decoration workshops will enable the production of a complete stage set, including trial assembly – a significant advantage for production quality and efficiency.

The relocation of the workshops will reduce the space requirements at the interim site. Small workshop areas will remain available there for immediate adjustments and modifications.

The relocation of the decoration workshops to the new site at the Upper Palace Gardens will create the necessary space for sustainable theatrical operations. Additionally, this will provide an opportunity to integrate the State Theaters' building ensemble, adjacent to the listed Littmann-Bau, more prominently into the urban landscape.

Project Status

In February 2023, the architectural firm gmp International was commissioned by the state-owned enterprise Vermögen und Bau Baden-Württemberg for the architectural design.

In May 2024, ProWST assumed responsibility for the project from the state-owned enterprise. The preliminary design phase for the new decoration workshops is scheduled for completion by summer 2025.

The preliminary design for the new decoration workshops was completed in June 2025.

In late September 2025, the Stuttgart City Council and the state governmentapprovedthe project resolution for the subproject to build a new workshop in Bad Cannstatt.This meansthe first of the three subprojects is moving into the design planning phaseon schedule.
The cost of this technically highly complex building amounts to approximately 124 million euros, including risk reserves and initial equipment for the Württemberg State Theaters. The costs will be split equally between the city and the state.

The construction resolution is anticipated by the end of 2027 .

Construction is scheduled to commence in 2028 .

The new workshop building is scheduled to be handed over to WST in 2030.

According to the current preliminary schedule, operations are slated to begin in 2031.