Since its foundation in 1967, one of the main strengths of the Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège has been its desire to function as an independent body. As a result, the 1970s saw the company create its own workshops to produce sets and wardrobe, with the buildings housing the different trades spread around the city at the time. These workshops proved their worth and achieved a level of high quality over the years, something that directors and scenographers praised on several occasions.

It was during the 96/97 season, with the creation of colossal sets and wardrobes for La Traviata, that new needs were detected. If the workshops were to remain at the peak of their rapidly-growing reputation, a new solution was needed to overcome the lack of space and functionality of the existing premises.

That is when the Opéra Royal de Wallonia-Liège decided to centralise its production departments on a single site in Ans, in the outskirts of Liège, in June 2002. The new architectural complex covers a surface area of 2,660 m² and brings the workshops together in one place: sets (carpentry, metalwork, painting, decoration and accessories), wardrobe (dressmaking/tailoring, footwear, costume decoration) and make-up/hairdressing.

Thanks to this redeployment, the Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège strengthened its position in the lyrical arts landscape at the time and boosted its ability to produce (or co-produce) high-quality shows on a large scale.