{"id":740721,"date":"2024-06-17T06:30:46","date_gmt":"2024-06-17T05:30:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/?p=740721"},"modified":"2024-06-17T11:16:42","modified_gmt":"2024-06-17T10:16:42","slug":"case-study-brighton-dome-by-feilden-clegg-bradley-studios","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/specification\/case-study-brighton-dome-by-feilden-clegg-bradley-studios","title":{"rendered":"Case study: Brighton Dome by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios"},"content":{"rendered":"

Set in historic Regency gardens and adjoining the famous Royal Pavilion, Brighton\u2019s Grade I-listed Corn Exchange and Grade II-listed Studio Theatre have been refurbished for a 21st-century audience.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Corn Exchange is a former Riding House, built in 1806 for the then Prince of Wales. It remains one of the most extraordinary buildings ever constructed as a homage to horses. Our project was originally conceived in 2013, the primary purpose being to resolve structural problems and upgrade the Corn Exchange theatre, as well as to improve both front-of-house and back-of-house facilities for the Brighton Dome venues, making them more accessible, more efficient and able to host a wide variety of events.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Corn Exchange\u2019s column-free timber structure measures 54 x 18 x 10m and can accommodate 505 seated and 1,291 standing, including performers and staff.\u00a0 <\/span>Our task was to conserve the building, adapting it to give it much-needed flexibility in terms of layout, seating, infrastructure and accessibility. The better-equipped Corn Exchange can now host a diverse range of uses, from dance and music performances to banqueting, exhibitions, meetings, graduation ceremonies and other celebrations.
\n<\/span><\/span>Peter Clegg, founding partner, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span>\"\"<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Project data<\/b><\/h3>\n

Start on site <\/b>September 2016
\nCompletion <\/b>October 2023
\nGross internal floor area <\/b>3,500m\u00b2
\nConstruction cost<\/b> \u00a332 million
\nArchitect <\/b>Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
\nClients <\/b>Brighton Dome, Brighton Festival, Brighton & Hove City Council
\nStructural engineer<\/b> Arup
\nEnvironmental engineer <\/b>Max Fordham
\nQS <\/b>Jackson Coles
\nLandscape architect<\/b> LT Studio
\nTheatre consultant<\/b> Charcoalblue
\nAccess <\/b>All Clear Designs
\nH&S adviser<\/b> Baqus
\nMain contractor<\/b> R Durtnell & Sons (2017-19), Westridge Construction (2019\u201323)
\nCAD software used <\/b>MicroStation
\nPredicted design life <\/b>100 years\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span>\"\"<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Architect\u2019s choices<\/b><\/h3>\n

Materials were chosen that are inherently robust to allow the interior fabric to withstand the demands of a contemporary multi-use and flexible performing arts environment. New materials had to respond sympathetically to the existing listed fabric, while also providing a palette which juxtaposed new interventions against the richness of the existing, offering visual clarity across an ensemble of buildings.<\/span><\/p>\n

While durability was key, the ageing of the materials and their finishes, through patina to be gained over many years of use, were important considerations in the materials selection.
\nJoshua Hobson, architect, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Specification<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

Over time, the Corn Exchange gradually built up layers of decoration, culminating in the interior being painted shades of salmon pink. Conservation work sought to peel back the layers to reveal the original structure of a proud, but very functional building.<\/span><\/p>\n

Through the process of removing the ceiling and stripping the paint, we revealed an innovative roof. Its shallow, arched beam structure runs east-west and supports a duo-pitched roof above. The principal arched beams are formed of three independent, equal-sized sections formed using staggered short lengths of timber, which are then bolted together to form a shallow arch. There are six bays, each comprising three principal beams, located between the scalloped windows along the west wall.<\/span><\/p>\n

Previously the Corn Exchange accommodated a large floorstanding truss for stage lighting and drapery, resulting in an inflexible space. The addition of four pairs of horizontal steel ties (triangulating the roof structure) has not only stabilised the roof but also increased the loading capacity, allowing a suspended motorised lighting truss to be hung from the 200-year-old structure. Other interventions included splicing in new timber to replace sections affected by dry rot. The house lighting celebrates and reveals this unique structure, which has been likened to an upturned boat.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Repairing and stabilising the roof has extended the life of the building for another 100 years while providing the operator, BDBF, greater capacity and freedom in how to use their venue.
\n<\/span>Joshua Hobson, architect, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Selected products<\/h3>\n

Audio, video and lighting
\n<\/b>Stage Electrics
\nBespoke
\nCorn Exchange, Studio Theatre and Anita\u2019s Room
\nstage-electrics.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n

Retractable (bleacher), fixed and portable seating
\n<\/b>Hussey Seatway
\nBespoke, Camira Main Line Flax fabric
\nCorn Exchange and Studio Theatre
\nhusseyseatway.com<\/a>
\n<\/i><\/p>\n

Interior timber linings and associated joinery and cabinetry<\/b>
\n<\/i>Neil Burke Joinery
\nBespoke. Horizontal boards to Corn Exchange walls: European oak, random lengths at 140 x 21mm, treated for surface spread of flame
\nCorn Exchange and Studio Theatre
\nneilburkejoinery.co.uk<\/a>
\n<\/i><\/p>\n

Architectural metalwork, including stairs and balustrades
\n<\/b>Southdown Construction
\nBespoke. Mild steel, black tinted PPC <\/i>lacquer finish
\nCorn Exchange, Studio Theatre, Gallery and foyers
\nsouthdownconstructionmetalwork.co.uk<\/a>
\n<\/i><\/p>\n

Stage engineering, including seating pit lift and motorised and fixed trusses and rigging
\n<\/b>J&C Joel
\nBespoke
\nCorn Exchange, Studio Theatre and Anita\u2019s Room
\njcjoel.com<\/a>
\n<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

Interior motorised blackout blinds
\n<\/b>Astralux
\nBespoke large-format roller blinds.\u00a0 <\/span>
\nObscura black fabric
\nCorn Exchange, Studio Theatre, Gallery and foyers
\ndearnleys.com<\/a>
\n<\/i><\/p>\n

Timber floors (sprung and non-sprung)
\n<\/b>Weitzer Parkett
\nEngineered oak plank (mixed widths)
\nFinish: Oak P<\/i>ure and Oak Black Pepper (brushed)
\nCorn Exchange, Studio Theatre and Gallery
\n<\/i>www.weitzer-parkett.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Fire-rated glazed acoustic screens
\n<\/b>AccentHansen
\nGlazeShield FL Series screens with 12mm Schott Pyran S glass
\nCorn Exchange, Studio Theatre and Gallery
\nNo longer trading<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Set in historic Regency gardens and adjoining the famous Royal Pavilion, Brighton\u2019s Grade I-listed Corn Exchange and Grade II-listed Studio Theatre have been refurbished for a 21st-century audience.\u00a0 The Corn Exchange is a former Riding House, built in 1806 for the then Prince of Wales. It remains one of the most extraordinary buildings ever constructed …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":741124,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"ep_exclude_from_search":false},"categories":[721],"tags":[1294,1229,91079,2209,1791],"yoast_head":"\nCase study: Brighton Dome by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Grade I-listed Corn Exchange and Grade II-listed Studio Theatre have been refurbished to make them more accessible and able to host a wide variety of events\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/specification\/case-study-brighton-dome-by-feilden-clegg-bradley-studios\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta 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