Battersea Arts Centre HLF Stage D Report June 2012 Haworth Tompkins TEAM Client Services Engineers Acoustic Consultants Battersea Arts Centre (BAC) XCO2 Energy Sound Space Design Old Town Hall Unit 1.01, The Wenlock 2 St George’s Court 166 Lavender Hill 50-52 Wharf Road 131 Putney Bridge Road London London London SW11 5TN N1 7EU SW15 2PA Contact: David Jubb, Jo Hunter Contact: John Farrell Contact: Eric Magloire Tel: 020 7326 8239 Tel: 020 7700 1000 Tel: 020 8877 5868 Architects Structural Engineers CDM Co-ordinator Haworth Tompkins Ltd Heyne Tillett Steel PFB CM Services Ltd 19-20 Great Sutton Street Unit 2, Compton Courtyard Warwick House London Compton Street 65-66 Queen Street EC1V 0DR London London EC1V 0BD EC4R 1EB Contact: Imogen Long Tel: 020 7250 3225 Contact: Tom Steel Contact: Duncan Boddy Tel: 020 7870 8050 Tel: 020 7329 1221 Quantity Surveyors Bristow Johnson & Partners 89 Charlotte Street London W1T 4PU Contact: Lindsay Cornock Tel: 020 7636 1036 2 Battersea Arts Centre HLF Stage D Report June 2012 CONTENTS DESIGN REPORT TECHNICAL REPORT APPENDICES 1 Executive Summary 6 Services Engineer’s Report 71 Appendix A Existing Drawings 177 2 Vision and Aims 8 Structural Engineer’s Report 99 Appendix B Scheme Drawings and Schedules 199 3 The Old Town Hall 10 Acoustic Consultant’s Report 139 Appendix C Outline Specification 285 4 Development of the scope of works 16 CDM Co-ordinator’s Report 151 Appendix D Summary of Access Audit 309 5 Proposals 20 Cost Consultant’s Report 155 Appendix E Sensitivity Drawings 317 5.1 Access and Learning 5.2 Restoration of significant Appendix F Stage C Masterplan overview 327 heritage elements 5.3 Town Hall Road Appendix G Pre-planning Written Feedback 343 5.4 Lower Hall 5.5 Conservation and Upgrades 6 Programme and Procurement 44 7 Statutory Authorities 46 7.1 Planning 7.2 Building Control 8 Cost Summary 48 9 Risk Management 50 10 Next Steps 52 11 Drawings 54 Haworth Tompkins Ltd 3 4 Battersea Arts Centre HLF Stage D Report June 2012 DESIGN REPORT “The vision for Battersea Arts Centre (BAC) is to champion the exploration of our history in order to help invent our future. For example, one of BAC’s strengths is that it is not based in a purpose built theatre but in a building with a great heritage and strong civic values: its spaces act as a provocation for artists who are looking to reinvent the rules of theatre. We think it is one of the reasons why BAC has housed some of the UK’s most innovative and brilliant theatre artists over more than 30 years. It is also the reason why we want the building to continue to enable creative congregation and collaboration, a home for young and old to come together, hosting thousands of different events every year, a model for resilient theatres of the future that encourage neighbourliness, empathy and civic pride. We want to create a space that provides a home, where artists and audiences can prepare food and eat together. We want BAC to reveal itself gradually, like an exciting story, rewarding those who peek behind the curtain, breaking the barriers between ‘front of house’ and ‘back stage’. We think that project will help identify new ways in which cultural organisations can bring heritage to life: not simply in terms of illustration but in the way that heritage informs our future.” David Jubb & David Micklem, BAC Joint Artistic Directors Haworth Tompkins Ltd 5 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report has been compiled by Haworth Tompkins Architects, in collaboration with Battersea Arts Centre (BAC) and the Design Team. It forms part of the second round submission for Heritage Lottery Funding. Battersea Arts Centre was approved for the first round development phase in June 2010. This document comprises the Design Report and the Technical Report for the proposals equivalent to RIBA Stage D. Battersea Arts Centre (BAC) is housed in a Grade II* listed Victorian Town Hall. The building is of significant note for its architectural, political, social and creative heritage. The proposed works to the building presented in this report will conserve the building’s historic features and improve facilities and access so that more people can enjoy and appreciate them, continuing the long history of community engagement which is already part of the Old Town Hall. The building itself is a magnificent example of Victorian architecture and a well-known and loved landmark on Lavender Hill. Inside the building contains a wealth of spaces, each having its own character, with grand rooms and entrances leading to intriguing corridors and intimate corners. The project involves not just the conservation of this valuable heritage, but acts as a beacon, bringing together and revealing the heritage of the wider area. The proposals comprise five elements: - Access improvements to the building, which include both physical and intellectual elements. The BAC archive is to be digitised and new viewing pods created in the foyer in order that visitors can learn about and interact with the building. The accessibility of public entry points to the building is to be improved with new ramps and lighting. An induction loop is to be located at the Box office and Braille signage installed in public areas. A new platform lift will link Lower Hall and Grand Hall level, creating accessible circulation throughout lower levels, ground and first floors. - Restoration of elements of significant heritage value, which include restoring the Hope- Jones Organ in the Grand Hall, the original glass mosaic flooring and the glazed Octagonal dome. The Grand Hall entrance canopy and Theatre Street lantern will also be restored. - Town Hall Road, a private road adjacent to the building within BAC’s lease, is to be relandscaped to create outdoor public space, enhancing the way this important building is presented to and used by its community. New signage is proposed to the bar entrance above: View of Town Hall Road below: Event on main steps 6 Battersea Arts Centre HLF Stage D Report June 2012 on Town Hall Road, indicating this entrance and encouraging new visitors. The proposals will also enable an expansion of uses linked to BAC activities and make environmental improvements to the wider area. - The Lower Hall level is to be remodeled to create improved facilities for users of the Lower Hall, increasing its appeal and use for a large number of different groups. This will enable wider appreciation of the Lower Hall itself, which is decorated with the Battersea motto and crest. Also at Lower Hall level, an enlarged office space will be created which is to be rented out to creative start-ups. In addition, the Lower Hall will make a greater contribution to BAC’s income generation capacity. - Conservation and upgrades to the historic building fabric. These works comprise essential repairs to the brickwork, stonework and roofs and the removal of non-original external features such as the projection box and external cabling to enhance the appearance of the building and return it closer to its original state. Fabric upgrades which will improve the energy efficiency of the building and reduce its carbon footprint are also to be made, including insulating the roofs, new double glazing to windows and rooflights, draught- proofing to doors and the installation of two new wood-burning stoves. The works detailed in this report form part of a wider masterplan for the building that proposes rationalisation, refurbishment and extension to existing internal facilities and the replacement and upgrade of the building services infrastructure. These wider proposals have been developed alongside the HLF works to Stage C. A summary of the proposals is included in Appendix F. This report is to be read in conjunction with the Conservation Management Plan for the Building and Archives, the 10 year Management and Maintenance Plan, Project Execution Plan, Activity Plan and other documents which form part of the HLF submission. Relative Sensitivity Analysis Drawings from the Conservation Management Plan are included in Appendix E of this report. above: Event in foyer below: Artist’s bedroom Haworth Tompkins Ltd 7 2 VISION AND AIMS BAC is a revenue funded arts organisation, founded in 1980. It has grown synonymous over the years with the building housing it, Battersea Old Town Hall, on Lavender Hill in southwest London. It is highly acclaimed for its innovative approach to theatre making and for the many successful artists who continue to emerge through its doors. BAC aims to create and promote exciting, high quality, risk-taking arts activity through creative collaborations between artists, staff and public. While theatre making and performance are central to BAC, it also forms a hub for the local community, with a number of other activities take place within the building. There is a café and a very popular under 5s play space, both adjacent to the foyer and open to the public daily. The Council Chamber and Grand Hall are used for performances as well as being hired for events such as weddings and conferences. There is a programme of activities with local schools, which take place in the Grand Hall and the Lower Hall. Other independent classes, such as Weight-watchers, yoga and after-school clubs also use the building. At any one time, the building therefore houses a variety activities and people, creating chance encounters and unusual juxtapositions. BAC aims to increase the number and range of Through this project we will explore the future role Howarth Tompkins activities further, facilitated by the proposed works. of theatre spaces working with artists, audiences, (Architects) architects, staff, trustees and local people.