Revealed: designs for 13,000 sq ft extension to cinema and arts complex

The significantly expanded Phoenix

Phoenix cinema and art centre has revealed the new designs for Phoenix 2020 – the expansion of its existing venue – which will see the Leicester charity add two further cinema screens, a new art gallery, an expanded café bar and a green roof terrace by 2020.

The £7m development will see elements of the existing venue’s interior reconfigured and a two storey 13,000 sq ft extension added to its eastern side.

The extension will feature a first floor ‘green’ roof terrace and event space, with lift and stair access, providing an outdoor space for dining, and cinema and art events.

On the ground floor, two new 70-seater cinema screens will complement Phoenix’s existing 220 and 120-seater auditoria, enabling a wider range of films to be screened more often.

A new digital art gallery – double the size of the current space – will be in the new extension enabling Phoenix to offer a richer and more ambitious art programme.

The current Café Bar will be extended to provide almost double the existing seating capacity, with new dining areas and a choice of seating. The kitchen area will also be greatly expanded to cater for increased capacity.

“We are delighted to have finalised the designs for Phoenix 2020,” said John Rance, CEO of Phoenix. “With input from a wide variety of people and partner organisations, we are confident the building design will enable us to achieve our aims to deliver a wider cultural programme to more people in and around Leicester, and in doing so put the charity on the very best financial footing for the future.”

The new plans have been created by architects Arcadis and have been submitted to Leicester City Council for formal planning permission.

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