Few buildings are more recognized around the world than the Sydney Opera House; it is one of the most significant buildings of the twentieth century and a symbol of both Australia and its capital city. On a yearly basis, it stages 2,500 performances, attracts more than 8.2 million visitors, contributes over $1 billion to Australia's economy, and supports 12,000 jobs.
What may be less well known about this architectural icon is that the drama of the building's construction rivals some of the plots that have been presented on its stage. The building took 16 years to complete (from 1957 to 1973) and ended up costing about 15 times more than was initially proposed, leading to public outrage and the eventual resignation in 1966 of its architect, Jørn Utzon, from the project.
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