Doncaster New Performance Venue starts on site

MAIN CONTRACTOR APPOINTED

Civic & Cultural Quarter, Doncaster

Work has started on site following Doncaster Council's ground breaking ceremony for the city's lastest stage of its Civic and Cultural Quarter project — the New Performance Venue (NPV), designed by Arts Team.

The Cultural Quarter is a Muse Developments project in partnership with Doncaster Council. Vinci Construction UK has been awarded the contract to build the venue, which will provide a 600 seat auditorium, a 220 seat (or 400 standing) flexible performance space, a drama studio, dance studio, café and education spaces, plus front- and back-of-house and ancillary areas. Associated with the venue is an area of public open space. The Mayor of Doncaster, Peter Davies, commented that, "The new performance venue will be the cultural heartbeat of the development".

Watford Palace Theatre

First phase of exterior upgrade

Clarendon Road, Watford

The first phase of the Arts Team-designed signage and lighting upgrade for the exterior Watford Palace Theatre is now complete. The Grade II listed theatre is a lovely, energetic venue that is home to a host of performances, workshops and community projects. However, its Edwardian façade, which dates from 1915, had slowly faded into the background of the urban noise of busy Clarendon Street over the years. The new work is aimed at reflecting the vibrancy of the activity within.

Watford Palace Theatre is delighted with the results of the first phase, which has included the cleaning and re-pointing of the façade and restoration of the iconic Palace Theatre sign.

Watford Colosseum unwrapped

REFURBISHMENT AND EXTENSION OF VENUE WITH WORLD-RENOWNED ACOUSTIC QUALITIES

Watford Colosseum, Watford, Hertfordshire

Arts Team's work to refurbish and extend Watford Colosseum reaches fruition with the gala opening ceremony set for 1st October.

Arts Team undertook the £5.5m refurbishment and extension for Watford Borough Council. The Art Deco Grade II listed main building, designed by C.C.F. Voysey, is known around the world for its exceptional acoustic qualities and is much-loved by the local community. The extension provides a new foyer and catering facilities, and its design is a subtle visual balance between the old and the new.

"Straight away you fall in love with the decor and the ambience", comments Derek Nicholls, Chief Executive of HQ Theatres which manages the venue. "It's like a big warm embrace."

Arts team appointed by NEC

FIT-OUT FOR NEW CONFERENCE CENTRE

NEC regional conference facility, Birmingham

Arts Team has been appointed by the NEC to design their new high quality regional conference facility, part of a new leisure and entertainment complex. The complex is being developed by Resorts World at a site overlooking Pendigo Lake, close to the LF Arena, Birmingham.
In keeping with the NEC ethos, our proposal is aimed at making a visit to the conference centre a positive and memorable experience. The centre will appear to perfectly suit every function by being highly adaptable. It will provide banqueting space for up 1100 people, flat-floor conference seating for 550 people, spaces for meetings set out cabaret style down to 30 people, exhibition space and areas for training and workshops.
We propose that the 4,000 sq m conference centre have a strong identity in the complex, which also contains a casino, a 4/5 star hotel, retail, cinemas and restaurants.

Cornerhouse + Library Theatre join forces in First Street, Manchester

INTERNATIONAL DESIGN COMPETITION

First Street Cultural Centre, Manchester

Arts Team's long-time client Library Theatre Co. in Manchester joined forces with the city's Cornerhouse cinema to set up an international design competition for their new joint home — to be known as First Street Cultural Centre. We worked on a functional model and outline design concept for the site developer, ASK.

The £19m First Street Cultural Centre will house a 500 seat theatre, studios, 600 sq m of gallery space, an outdoor performance area, a café and ancillary facilities. It will be located on the north side of First Street, as part of ASK's First Street development in the city centre. Our competition entry is being considered alongside designs by Bennetts Associates, Austin-Lord Smith and Dutch practice Mecanoo.