National Portrait Gallery to close for structural repairs in 2019

The National Portrait Gallery has revealed it will be closing its doors for six months next year to deal with structural problems in and around the building.

The $87 million building that opened in 2008 and won an architectural award for its ‘strength’ in 2009 is struggling under the weight of about 500,000 visitors per year.

As reported by the ABC, the building will be closed for six months from April 2019 after holes were found in the waterproofing layer around the gallery, which caused leaks in the car park below.

The Federal Department of Finance will fund the repair bill, with the cost not currently confirmed.

National Portrait Gallery Director Angus Trumble said increased foot traffic was at least partly to blame.

Trumble told the ABC “when you think about it, if you have half a million people coming through your front door every year, it stands to reason buildings that have high traffic will need maintenance of various kinds.”

While the concrete is being fixed, the building's timber floors will also be ripped up and replaced with a material that can carry heavier loads.

Trumble said staff were first notified of the problem after discovering puddles of water near their cars after a storm.

He added “you may recall a few years ago we had a torrential rain episode and water entered the underground car park that had no business being there, so therefore we concluded that the podium was leaking.

"Although in and of itself the problem was not a major one, the long-term consequences of not dealing with it are serious, so it really needs to be fixed."

While the building is closed, the gallery plans to ramp up exhibition tours around Australia and display portraits at various locations around Canberra.

Trumble does not think the closure will have a large impact on operations, concluding “we'll pick up traffic where we have a presence outside Canberra and I'm totally convinced our public will gallop back through the doors once we open.”

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