It’s impossible to miss the State Theatre -- a grade one historic structure and dubbed the last grand post-war theatre structure still standing in the city -- thanks to its out-of-this-world roof structure. The parabolic exoskeleton truss lifts the roof and provides support to the entire building. The result is a spacious column-less auditorium that can seat more than 1,200 audiences.  The curvaton also doubles as a natural amplifier and sound isolator, creating top-notch acoustical conditions inside the auditorium. The front door façade features a bold wall relief mural by renowned contemporary Chinese artist Mei Yutian. The relief features Chinese, Southeast Asian and Greek dancers. The rest of the façade comprises of blocks of color overlapping each other, making it look less like one single mass. But first, one should learn about the cultural importance of the State Theatre. The theatre was first opened in 1952 as the Empire Theatre. It was a pioneer in bringing international art and cultural performances to town, paving way for the opening of Hong Kong’s City Hall a decade later. The Empire Theatre only operated for five years. Two years later in 1959, the complex was reopened as State Theatre. The cinema/theatre was a witness to the rise of Cantonese movies from the 70s and 80s. The theatre was closed in 1997 and reopened as a snooker and sauna facility in 2000.  Once under threat of bulldozer, the State Theatre may be preserved as its new owner New World Development Company expressed willingness to conserve the building.