During a visit to the Theater an der Wien on 7 September 2023 to inspect the work, Wien Holding CEO Kurt Gollowitzer, VBW CEO Franz Patay and MusikTheater an der Wien director Stefan Herheim reported on the refurbishment, by then well advanced:

Much of the work on the building fabric has been completed, for example the foundations for the new orchestra pit, the concrete shafts for the front-of-house lifts and the walls for the extra level above the dressing rooms where new equipment and appliances will be housed. In fact, this work has progressed so well that the crane that was installed for it can already be removed.

The glass roof of the new dress circle foyer has also been fitted and secured so that the rest of the work on the foyer, including its interior finish, can proceed. Renovation of the facade, windows and roof has also started. Renovation of the facade in the inner courtyard has already been completed. The outer doors for the newly conceived entrance loggia on Naschmarkt have been put in. Renovation of the damping in the basement levels is also complete.

The building nevertheless keeps producing the odd surprise or challenge for the construction engineers, and these are making this project even more complicated, time-consuming and, owing to rising prices in the construction industry, costly.

Despite all the unforeseen difficulties posed by current trends in the construction industry and the building’s architectural characteristics, the theatre will reopen in autumn 2024 as planned.