Best refurb over £3m
There were two commendations and one winner in this category.
Winner: Arts Theatre
The Arts Theatre Cambridge: A Contemporary Reimagining of an Historic Theatre
A transformative refurbishment of The Arts Theatre Cambridge. The project delivered a revitalised auditorium, upgraded dressing rooms and back-of-house spaces, replaced audio-visual infrastructure and lighting, refurbished public toilets and shopfront to Peas Hill.
Client : Cambridge Arts Theatre Trust
Savills – Project Management
Aecom – Cost Consultant & Contract Administrator
HCR Hewitsons – Property Legal
Mills & Reeve – Construction Legal
Stuart A Johnson Consulting – Funding Monitor
Ian Chalk Architects – Architect and Lead Designer
Buro Happold – Engineers
CharcoalBlue – Theatre Consultants
SWECO – Building Control and Principal Designer
Turleys – Planning Consultants
Alan Baxter – Heritage Consultants
Main Contractor: Cocksedge Building Contractors:
Subcontractors:
Neil Burke Joinery, Push the Button, ABS Mechanical, ABS Electrical, ABS Joinery, Aqua
Environmental, Kirwin and Simpson, Styne, Anglia Fabrications & Design, Envirodec,
AMES, WSP, Prestige Fire, Kladworx, Apolodor, Dunhams, Youngs Doors, Stair Pro,
Norfolk Flooring, Camalarms, and Newmans Display.
Client Suppliers
AMC Joinery, Inivatech, Metric Media
Image credit: Photograph of new auditorium as seen from stage. Copyright Philip Vile
Judges citation:
“The 90 year old Arts Theatre is one of Cambridge’s best known public buildings, and we were astonished that its comprehensive refurbishment was carried out with minimal impact or disturbance (not even skips!) to its neighbours. The new, elegant, maple-clad auditorium is perhaps the most visible change but we also saw the vastly improved under- and behind-stage areas, the new entrance from Peas Hill, and the complete renewal of electrical and stage services, making productions and changeovers vastly more efficient. We heard of endless ‘discoveries’ adding complexity to the project, including how the balcony had to be completely rebuilt. This project is the hugely successful foundation for phase 2, which is the addition of a second ‘studio’ theatre which we all look forward to enjoying in future. Congratulations!”
