Works begins onsite at Richmond Theatre

Richmond Theatre was first constructed in 1899 and underwent major refurbishment in the 1990s. Last year, tenant and operator Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG), announced plans to undertake repair works at the theatre. Due to our previous experience at locations such as The Royal Opera House and Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, our mechanical and electrical engineers were appointed to undertake condition surveys and PPM life cycle upgrades.

The Rolton Group team has been responsible for defining the scope of works in relation to MEP condition, compliance and PPM of the existing assets including mains cold water, HVAC central plant and equipment and LV distribution. Following investigations which found that the ventilation, heating and plant controls in the auditorium were underperforming and inefficient, the team developed a brief to replace all of the plant and systems in accordance with the PPM strategy to allow for improvements in design.

Having also prepared a high level performance design to RIBA Stage 3, developed design for negotiated tender by the contractor to mitigate design and procurement lead in, our engineers have also been retained client side in the role of Technical Advisor for RIBA Stages 4–7 of the contract.

As of this week, the project is now onsite and the theatre has entered a rare ‘dark period’ in which it has closed for 10 weeks for the works to take place during normal working hours.

Rolton Group Project Leader and Director, Craig Smith said of the occasion:

“We are excited to be able to bring our recent experience of theatres having completed major projects at The Royal Opera House and ongoing works at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane to the ATG portfolio, in the form of this key PPM project at Richmond Theatre.

“Using the very rare ‘dark period’ to replace the majority of the MEP central plant and equipment is going to be a real challenge before the curtain raises for the opening show at the end of Q3 2019, but we love a challenge!”