WMCCE 2011: Shakespeare theatre puts construction excellence centre stage

MACE’s lead performance at Stratford-upon-Avon’s Royal Shakespeare Theatre has helped the company secure the joint project of the year winner at the West Midlands Centre for Constructing Excellence Awards.

Refurbishment of old buildings doesn’t come more challenging than the six-year, £57m transformation of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

After overcoming architectural and technical challenges, the completed venue has helped to revolutionise the Royal Shakespeare Company’s relationship with its audience and the town of Stratford.

The transformation of the venue was devised to create the best possible theatre space while retaining the art-deco facades and foyer of the Grade II listed theatre.

The main feature is a reconstructed 1,000-seat auditorium built around a stage which reduces the distance between the actors and audience.

Challenges included adding a 36-metre high tapering observation tower, creating new public spaces and digging an eight-metre basement next to the River Avon.

For more details about all of the WMCCE Awards 2011 winners, click through to download and read our full supplement.

WMCCE judges believe lead contractor MACE has succeeded in delivering a bold, visually rich and technically complex build which has transformed the appearance of the site yet retained the character and history of the existing buildings.

Key to the project’s success was excellent teamwork, a strong design ethos and good management.

WMCCE The project was handed over in July last year within budget and to the construction programme set out early in the project.

WMCCE executive director Phil Wilson said: “MACE and its project partners worked in partnership to carefully transform one of the region’s main cultural attractions and deliver an outstanding refurbishment project of a Grade II listed building.

“Not only was this technically challenging but the project is also an example of what can be delivered by excellent communication between client, designer and contractor.”

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