The Waikato Regional Theatre represents an arts-led urban regeneration project for Hamilton that will reconnect the city with the Waikato River, a treasured taonga of Waikato-Tainui and Ngāti Tūwharetoa. Integrating with the surrounding urban fabric, the theatre will form the civic heart of a cultural precinct undergoing a renaissance led by the local community.

The Victoria Street site in the city centre has been home to the Hamilton Hotel since 1864, as well as the historic Embassy Theatre, the predecessor to the existing 50-year-old Founders Theatre, which this development replaces, and so has a rich and important history in Hamilton.

The new structure connects to the east side of the existing heritage hotel to address the river and reinvigorate the street frontage. By connecting the city with the river and retaining outstanding heritage and natural features, including mature native planting along the riverbank, the design delivers a distinctive experience to visitors that will be unique to Hamilton and its community. The proposed design will also include restoration of the hotel to incorporate a new gallery, hospitality on Victoria Street and a riverside café designed to inject new energy into the inner city.