Awarded following competitive tender, we completed the design and construction of the extension to the Festival Theatre at Potterow in Edinburgh to provide additional rehearsal space, auditorium and office accommodation.
As the project was constructed within the South Side Conservation Area, adjacent to the World Heritage Site in Edinburgh, we have ensured that the new building has been sympathetically incorporated into its surroundings. The site is extremely restricted in the city centre of Edinburgh and had to overcome the many challenges associated with working in this location.
The phased construction of the new extension took place within a sensitive environment, with works taking place whilst the existing Festival Theatre remained fully operational, the University of Edinburgh’s music school likewise and residential properties unaffected by the construction works. Cognisance had to be given to the various Edinburgh Festival events taking place during August 2012, 2013 and 2014. With demonstrable experience working within sensitive areas, we established effective and efficient procedures to ensure we minimise impact on these properties.
The Festival Theatre building provides several uses including auditorium, lecture space, rehearsal space, a function room, retail letting space and changing areas and toilet facilities. To provide flexibility, these have been designed so they are retractable when the space is used as a function room or rehearsal room. There is a mirrored wall on one side of the room to all the space to be used as a dance room with the floor constructed with Timber Sprung. Onerous Acoustic requirements were required in this project and we have installed Acoustic Wall and Ceiling Panelling to meet these requirements.
The roof structure to the second phase of the project is a stepped flat roof using stone and feature cladding with the external façade formed with sandstone cladding to Potterow Street and South College Street having bronze aluminium cladding at windows. The rear elevations overlooking the Theatre Service Yard are white Sto insulated render.
In addition, due to the close proximity of the Music School and the existing Theatre, our Project Manager implemented restricted working hours and delivery times and has implemented the use of silenced plant to ensure that our works have a minimal impact on the operations of the Music School and the Festival Theatre.