Troxy, Commercial Road Urgent Works - Listed Building Application

Ian Chalk Architects March 2021 Introduction

The following document has been prepared to support the drawings prepared by Ian Chalk Architects for a series of urgent internal works to Troxy and is intended to provide an overview of the works proposed within the accompanying drawings.

The proposals have been developed in consultation with the Client team and are cognisant of the initial findings from the supporting Heritage Assessment

2 March 2021 | Ian Chalk Architects Contents

Executive Summary Client Vision Existing Building Conservation Area + Listing Scope Overview Proposals Foyer Mezzanine Foyer WCs Stage + Stage House Ventilation

3 March 2021 | Ian Chalk Architects Executive Summary

The following design & access statement report describes a strategy for a series works to Troxy, Commercial Road. The venue is currently closed due to COVID and the owner is looking to take the opportunity to undertake alterations and improvements to the building. The proposals presented within this document develop upon the recent pre-application material and represent the first phase of work which includes: urgent maintenance and life- safety measures; providing a COVID secure venue and improving functionality and capacity of the venue. Later phases aim to build further on this and will be subject to separate applications. The sequencing of the works allows for the delivery of all elements whilst maximising the building’s current uses and minimising disruption to its operation.

Project Team The enclosed sketch proposals have the benefit of comprehensive input from the wider professional team and have been through initial tests with the following Consultants: Project Manager - Harper Tackley Planning Context - Montagu Evans Heritage Consultant - Spurstone Heritage Architect - Ian Chalk Architects Discussions are also underway with Consultants for Fire Strategy, as well as Structural and Mechanical & Electrical Services design. Initial consultation has also been sought from the Theatres Trust and Twentieth Century Society with broad support received on the principles of the proposals. Please refer to the Appendices for the full letters of response.

4 March 2021 | Ian Chalk Architects Client Vision

Achieving Global Recognition With Local Focus Investment, Innovation & Diversity With good relationships with the local Tenant and Residents Troxy is established as a popular venue for young people: one third Association, Troxy has recently been nominated as an Asset of of the audience is under 25. The audience is highly diverse, reflecting Community Value. Local businesses, including pubs, cafés and the diversity of the programme: in the last 12 months leading up to restaurants, as well as mini-cab firms benefit from the 150,000+ the pandemic closure, Troxy hosted shows from Brazil, Romania, visitors the venue attracts each year, bringing money into the local Poland, Korea, China, Columbia, and Spain. The audience comes area and wider borough. Events require upwards of a hundred staff, from across Greater London, with a smaller number drawn from the bringing further value to the community with bar staff, security rest of the UK and from overseas. personnel, stewards and cleaners required on top of the full time work the business provides. Troxy is influential within the music sector. It is a venue of choice for In the words of NME's editor Mike Williams, Troxy is one of London's "oldest, coolest and most iconic venues". It hosts 150 events each year, at least 25 of which can be considered nationally significant. The many stars include Robbie Williams, New Order, Ricky Gervais, Sir David Attenborough, Morrissey, Little Mix, and Nick Cave. Major stars often see Troxy as an atmospheric historic venue to put on a memorable one-off show for their fans: in this respect the venue plays an equivalent role to The Roundhouse in Camden. Troxy also hosts immersive theatre shows by Secret Cinema; and is a venue of choice for music industry gatherings. Troxy is committed to supporting its local community. It sponsors the Troxy…Where East Is Best annual Limehouse Festival, enables the local Residents Associations Troxy has a long and illustrious history of serving East London to use the venue for free, and regularly gives away free tickets to communities. The founding intention, to give East London a venue local residents and community groups. Troxy was about to launch that is the match of anywhere, is relevant to this day. an apprenticeship scheme aimed at local young people before the "It seemed like Hollywood had come to the Commercial Road in all venue had to close in March 2020. There is also a policy of giving its glory… Outside was a blaze of lights, inside a large foyer with…a national charities significant discounts, including Cancer Research, large sweeping staircase, chandeliers, ceiling to floor mirrors and Nordoff Robbins and the Stroke Association. thick carpets. In fact, West End luxury at a price we could afford." Further investment in the venue will allow for more complex music music industry gatherings including the Artist and Managers Awards, events, theatre performances and offer even more versatility than NME Awards and Kerrang Awards. It is committed to innovation Returning An Exemplary Heritage Asset Back To Its Former Glory it already has. The flexibility generated by having a permanently including: Since 2006, Troxy has re-established itself as a prestigious award- installed stage with wings will give the venue many more winning independent venue for concerts, performances, films, opportunities within the live music, theatre and TV industries, giving In 2018 becoming the world's biggest mobile-only and awards ceremonies and sporting events, with a current capacity of event producers and organisers far more convenience and options tout proof venue, in partnership with the DICE online ticketing 3,100. The owners Mohit Sharma and Deepak Sharma have overseen within the space. Bringing back the stage in the original area will also platform. major renovations, including the relocation of the Trocadero's allow for an increased capacity of up to 4,000 which will give Troxy Wurlitzer organ to Troxy. The building is Grade II listed, and has been a unique size within London sitting firmly between Roundhouse In 2019 becoming a flagship venue and recognised safe space invested in heavily since 2006 to ensure it is protected, maintained (3,300) and Brixton (4,900). for LGBTQ+ led events. and well looked after. The upgrade plans for 2021 include a new daytime café open to Troxy is an important attractor of spend into the borough of Tower A prime example of an important piece of London architectural non-event goers, showing exhibitions on the building's history and Hamlets, the 10th most deprived borough in the UK, and is the history, the 1930s George Coles designed building is a significant memories of nights at Troxy. This will further improve local access anchor of its evening economy. There is no other major venue in heritage attraction. The current owners want to protect it as a public and employment. the borough. Based on Music Venue Trust Metrics, Troxy's audience and historical space. It is important that the venue is restored back spends more than £2m per year at local hotels, bars and restaurants, to its former glory as closely as practically possible, with HRH The A key driver for the refurbishment is to improve accessibility and use supporting many jobs that are accessible to local residents. The Prince of Wales commending the owners for their preservation of the venue for all visitors and clients. Whether it is a small local proposed improvements will substantially improve on these figures of the building during a visit to Troxy in 2015. Enabling works and school or resident's association or a large global touring band or at a time the local and national economy is suffering. development at the rear of the site will allow for further investment corporate conference, Troxy aims to provide a convenient, flexible in the building to protect it for generations to come and improve and affordable plug and play facility for all to use. Similarly, Troxy accessibility for the local community. aims to future proof the events space making it COVID safe for the short term but also flexible enough to cope for any further threats to the Heritage asset in the long term. 5 March 2021 | Ian Chalk Architects Client Vision

Fiercely Independent Troxy achieves its significant impact by being run as an independent, entrepreneurial, responsible business. It has steadily built up its programme and its public profile over the last 14 years. Troxy will continue to be the most versatile venue in London, and further investment solidifies its position as an industry leader. It remains fiercely independent, allowing the business to be flexible, nimble and adaptable in an ever-changing world. If Troxy is forced out of business, it will be lost forever as a nationally significant historic building and cultural venue, or the public sector will have to spend significant funds to help reopen it and rebuild the programme.

6 March 2021 | Ian Chalk Architects 7 March 2021 | Ian Chalk Architects Existing Building

The existing building is a Grade II listed 1930s’ art-deco theatre building that has been through a number of uses since it was originally built. It has been owned by Ashburn Estates for 10-15 years and is currently used as music and events venue.

The building occupies the entire urban block from Commercial Road to the Viaduct (and Pitsea Place), and flanked by Caroline Street and Pitsea Street to the east and west sides respectively.

8 March 2021 | Ian Chalk Architects Scope Overview The works within this application form a first phase of works and include urgent maintenance and life-safety measures, providing a COVID secure venue and improving functionality and capacity of the venue.

The scope of the works comprises:

Foyer + Lobby Removal of non-original box office and making good Removal of suspended access ceiling in lobby, revealing original metal coffers/repair New Internal Doors - temporary to match existing Temporary free-standing Box Office in location of existing Security Removal of non-original partitions at Mezzanine Foyer and provision of new temporary free-standing bar

WC + facilities Upgrades Refurbishment of WCs generally Removal of non-original partitions in former waiting room space and installation of new WCs New cloakroom provision and associated circulation/way-finding improvements

Stage + Auditorium Removal of non-original partitions to Stage + Wings Repairs to smoke lantern

Ventilation improvements Repair/Replace MEP Check existing ductwork and reverse flow - clean and repair existing grilles

Ian Chalk Architects 9 March 2021 | Ian Chalk Architects Conservation Area + Listing York Square

The building is located within the York Square Conservation Area and the significance of Troxy is officially recognised by its inclusion in the statutory list of buildings of special architectural or historic interest, at Grade II.

The listing description identifies the building as:

TQ 3581 16/6014

Commercial Road No 490 Troxy

(Formerly listed as LONDON OPERA CENTRE (FORMER TROXY CINEMA) Commercial Road)

Former cinema with cafe, later converted as a costume and scene painting studio. c1931-33 by George Coles for cinema entrepreneurs Phil and Sid Hyams and Major A J Gale. FigTroxy, 10. The shortly Troxy ready after for itsopening, opening presentation1933 , King Kong, in 1933 (Troxy archive) The Hyams Brothers 2.15 The Troxy was one of a chain of spectacular large cinemas built and operated in the 1930s by Cream faience tiles giving channelled effect; yellow stock brick return. Phil, Sid and Mick Hyams. In 1912 their father Hyam, a baker of Russian Jewish origins, Art Deco style. Central two-storey opening with enriched architrave invested in an early cinema — the Popular, on Commercial Road near the Site (noted above, 2.13). His eldest son Phil (1894–1997) learned the business by working at there after school. and distyle in antis pillars, having stylised capitals, rising from first floor Even after the Troxy opened, the family kept the Popular open, because ‘Mother would cry if level to support an enriched frieze. Pillars flank vertical glazing with we shut it … It costs a lot of money but it has to be kept going.’ (Swaffer 1933) delicately patterned strips and geometrically patterned head panels. 2.16 Phil — ‘one of the last great showmen’ — and Sid built up a small chain of cinemas in the Projecting canopy at first floor level above entrances, two with original 1920s by converting former music halls, and in 1927 took on a large tramshed at Stratford. The resulting Broadway ‘super cinema’, was their first collaboration with the architect George doors (glazing altered) and one now blocked. To either side of main Coles, who provided a palatial auditorium seating 2,700. He went on to design all the Hyams’ ground floor opening, entrances now altered above which panels for subsequent cinemas, ‘buildings of eye-popping grandeur in reach of the working classes in some of London's dreariest suburbs’. Besides the Troxy, these included the Elephant and posters, each surmounded by a pilaster with original flag poles rising Castle Trocadero, opened in 1930 with a lavish ceremony involving three live elephants: above geometrically patterned frieze, dentil cornice and blocking ‘externally ponderous, it boasted a sumptuous 3,500-seat auditorium with elaborate Renaissance decoration and an atmosphere of magical expectation that never faded’. course. Double height foyer altered to include an inserted floor to form 2.17 Their biggest joint venture was the Gaumont State Cinema, Kilburn, opened at Christmas workshops; originally with a first floor cafe and balcony. Golden onyx 1937, which occupied a site of three-and-a-half acres and had an auditorium with more than stair with central cast iron balustrade and multi-coloured marble floor 4,000 seats. ‘Here a modern skyscraper tower with full broadcasting facilities rose above an remain. Auditorium with rich Art Deco plaster work to walls, ceiling and entrance hall in Italian Renaissance style with marble floors and columns, pink mirrors, and Conservation Area Character Appraisals and Management Guidelines Page 3 of 20 two chandeliers modelled on those in the banqueting hall at Buckingham Palace. It was a proscenium; side walls include large panels of delicate ornamental place fit for royalty and in fact Queen Mary regularly came to programmes in the 1940s … The grillwork and original lights. Large, enriched three-tier ceiling fitting huge stage, orchestra pit, Wurlitzer organ, twenty dressing rooms, band room and scenery workshop were all put to use for frequent live shows over the years — from ballet and providing illumination and air conditioning outlets. Original balcony. circuses to pantos and pop concerts.’ (Eyles 1997; Norden 2009) Stage retains revolving circles. Lift for Wurlitzer organ survives. The Troxy closed in 1960 and re-opened 1963 as a training school for Spurstone Heritage Ltd ǀ The Troxy | Initial Heritage Assessment | November 2020 DRAFT 8 Convent Garden Opera.

Please refer to the Heritage Assessment within the Appendices for further detail

10 March 2021 | Ian Chalk Architects Proposals

11 March 2021 | Ian Chalk Architects Foyer

12 March 2021 | Ian Chalk Architects The following pages provide an appraisal of the existing lobby/foyer spaces and make initial proposals for a first stage of works to improve the functionality of the main entrance. Initial investigations are also included that reveal original finishes concealed behind later linings.

13 March 2021 | Ian Chalk Architects Historic Foyer

In its original form, the entrance lobby and foyer consisted of an ornately decorated sequence of spaces. with detailing of a similar quality to the elaborate plasterwork in the main auditorium space.

Six pairs of timber and glass double doors gave access from the street to a single-height lobby space, which in turn lead via six double doorsets into a double-height vestibule with central stairs rising to the main circle waiting area and mezzanine tea room. Glass feature lighting similar to that seen in the auditorium framed the staircase and the foyer floor was accentuated with strong geometric patterning. The images right give an indication of the original scale and grandeur of the entrance lobby and foyer.

14 March 2021 | Ian Chalk Architects Existing Foyer

As found, the existing lobby and foyer has undergone considerable change. This is largely the result of two periods in the building's past. Firstly, during the building's conversion to the London Opera Centre in 1963 which resulted in the extension of the mezzanine floorplate across the central double-height and, secondly, in 1991 when the building was used as a Bingo hall with the introduction of a central box office and much of the current linings and finishes. This also included the loss of the original timber framed entrance doors and their replacement with aluminium double-glazed units.

These alterations have compromised the legibility Existing section through lobby and foyer - of the foyer and its presence from the street. There original volume shown dotted is now an opportunity to revisit the entrance spaces and begin a process of removing some of the later non-original elements.

Existing foyer, November 2020 - non-original finishes throughout including lowered soffit and suspended ceiling

non Lobby original box Foyer office COMMERCIAL ROAD COMMERCIAL

Existing lobby, November 2020 - non-original metal framed doors and linings with later box office in Existing lobby and foyer layout central bay

15 March 2021 | Ian Chalk Architects Initial investigations and proposals

At this stage, proposals for the foyer and lobby are aimed at improving the legibility of the main entrance spaces and improving operation, as well as people flow.

One key element of this involves removing the central box office obstructing the approach from the street and reinstating doors to this bay. Ultimately there is an aspiration to replace all non-sympathetic aluminium doors and reinstate timber and glass doorsets as replicas of the originals to the front facade and inner lobby, however this work will be subject to additional funding being sought; in the interim, it is proposed to install new doors to match the current existing sets.

As part of early investigations around the removal of the box office, later suspended ceilings and carpet finishes have been opened up where possible and this has revealed an original coffered ceiling with lighting trays in the lobby space and the original 1930's Linoleum flooring in the main foyer. Subject to further investigations, the aspiration for these spaces is to remove the later linings and begin a process of revealing and repairing the original fabric.

Lobby - original coffered soffit behind later Lobby - mock-up of rewired coffered lighting suspended ceiling

carpet removed throughout with linoleum flooring exposed

coffered ceiling revealed to lobby Lobby Foyer

new doors to central bay to match existing COMMERCIAL ROAD COMMERCIAL

Foyer - detail of original linoleum foyer hinting window opening at original colour scheme to box office - temporary box office new in location of pass door former doorway Foyer - carpet lifted to reveal original linoleum Proposed lobby and foyer layout flooring beneath

16 March 2021 | Ian Chalk Architects Mezzanine foyer

17 March 2021 | Ian Chalk Architects Office retained

Foyer with new mezzanine bar views from entrance Original mezzanine and foyer waiting space foyer to upper mezzanine As a result of later subdivision, the original mezzanine foyer that led to the lower circle has been much altered and reduced in plan. This has resulted in the loss of clarity of the plan and harmed the sense of arrival from the entrance later subdividing foyer to the balcony seating. Subject to further investigations, there is a desire to remove as much of the later partitions removed subdivision as possible to reopen this space, potentially serving as a new mezzanine bar area for the main events space. The existing office accommodation will be retained as this provides essential spaces for the operations of the venue, although should sufficient accommodation be found elsewhere in the building, this too could potentially be included as part of the reinstated foyer area.

Plan at balcony level showing potential reopened mezzanine foyer

18 March 2021 | Ian Chalk Architects WCs

19 March 2021 | Ian Chalk Architects The following pages assess the existing WC provision throughout the building and make initial proposals for refurbishment/consolidation, as well as increasing capacity where possible to meet current standards, bench-marking provision on The Technical Standards for Places of Entertainment.

20 March 2021 | Ian Chalk Architects Existing + Proposed WCs

The existing WC provision is the result of piecemeal development throughout the building's history and does not Existing offer adequate capacity for the current or increased venue Female Male occupancies. The proposed drawings present layouts for the pan basin urinal pan basin location and increased provision of WCs, focussing primarily Basement -- --- Ground 11 9 3 1 3 at the main events space on the basis of a venue capacity of Mezz -- 7 3 5 3600 people. First 8 8 6 2 4 Second 4 3 4 2 3 The existing building has limited WC provision which is TOTAL 23 20 20 8 15 problematic for the operation of the venue at its current capacity of 3100 people. Whilst there are limitations with the Yellow Book – Technical Standards 2015 fabric of the existing building and accepting the building's Benchmark - Table 24a - venues wiith continuous performance heritage value, there are possibilities to improve provision Female Male pan basin urinal pan basin and upgrade the existing facilities. 47 25 24 6 11

The schedule adjacent shows the existing WC provision, targeted benchmark based on the Yellow Book - Technical Standards 2015 and the proposed numbers achieved in the Typical existing WCs - accompanying drawings. Subject to future needs assessment, non-original to the building some of the male WC provision may be given over to female use. Proposed (Main Events Space only) Female Male pan basin urinal pan basin Basement 22 10 20 6 10 Ground 7 5 --- Mezz -- 13 3 5 First 9 8 7 2 4 Second 5 4 5 2 3 TOTAL 43 27 45 13 22

Assumed occupancy of 3600pp to main venue space only, with 50/50 split

21 March 2021 | Ian Chalk Architects Proposed WCs

As part of the works, the former redundant waiting space in the basement is proposed to be brought back into use for audience members as new WC and cloakroom facilities.

This gives a significant uplift in provision and is intended to relieve queuing pressures at stalls level. New WCs will be designed to be sympathetic to the existing building with freestanding elements and original features retained and repaired. New drainage connections Later and ventilation upgrades will be installed Waiting Space subdivisions as part of the works. removed and new freestanding WC To allow for improved connectivity, a installation with redundant stairwell that was designed to original fabric provide access to the waiting area directly and finishes revealed and from the street will be reconfigured to repaired give direct access into the stalls. Shared Male WC Female WC The works at stalls level also present an Washroom opportunity to provide an additional Accessible WC with direct access to the stalls in this location. Full provision of Accessible WCs to all floors will be subject to a separate future application associated with new passenger lift installation. Stairwell Waiting Space - now redundant and reconfigured at used for storage Ground Floor to provide direct access from stalls to Basement

Proposed layout - new Basement WCs in former waiting space

22 March 2021 | Ian Chalk Architects Stage + Stage House

23 March 2021 | Ian Chalk Architects The following pages provide an appraisal of the existing stage and make initial proposals for its alternation.

24 March 2021 | Ian Chalk Architects Historic stage

Orchestra pit

There are a number of opportunities here.

The original stage house consisted of a traditional proscenium arch with safety curtain and orchestra pit as - We would suggest that the existing lift mechanism be replaced with a new state-of-the-art forestage elevator. well lifts and revolves. The stage was raised to the main stalls floor and wing space was provided to both - We would suggest that the original organ position be reinstated with its own dedicated lift. - Originally there was a third lift on stage left to mirror the organ lift – it may be worth retaining this function for DDA access to stage etc. Stage left and right. Images of the original arrangement can be seen adjacent. These would be major ‘wins’ in terms of heritage ‘restoration’ and, importantly, giving some important benefits to the Troxy:

- Puts the organ console in its original position and solves the issue of storage in the stalls when the circle staircases are opened up. - Provides a lift with 4 key levels: 25 March 2021 | Ian Chalk Architects o Forestage (as in the image above) which would be useful as shown as well as for corporate events o Stalls – to extend the stalls area and also to pick up kit coming in via the current get-in route to transfer to stage level

Project | Troxy Page | 9 15 August 2020| ©UNUSUAL Existing stage Limited get-in access

Kitchen

Kitchen

location of temporary stage decking Temporary decking forming stage

Stalls Kitchen

Existing stage viewed from mid-circle

Kitchen areas behind partition

WCs In its current configuration, the proscenium arch is still in place, however, the stage front and orchestra pit are no longer visible. Temporary staging is used to form the stage deck. Currently get-in is limited with items brought in from Caroline Street via the escape routes.

The main stage area has also been subdivided with kitchen and WC facilities. During conversion into the London Opera Centre, a new raised floor was installed to the stalls area - this brought the stalls level to the Extent of original stage stage level. Early investigations in the basement provide evidence that the original stage and pit are intact behind proscenium beneath the current floor Existing Stage with original footprint overlaid

26 March 2021 | Ian Chalk Architects Proposals

Later subdivisions removed to reinstate wings and open up flytower

Existing grid intact at top of flytower Subdividing partitions and suspended ceiling of stage seen from existing flytower void Stalls Stage Proposals for the stage house intend to reinstate the main wing spaces and improve usability. Subdivisions and the suspended ceiling above the stage are to be removed - this will allow for greater wing space and the possibility of reinstating the flytower. An initial review of fire safety measures is underway and any proposals will look to provide all necessary life safety requirements.

A future separate application will aim to address limitations of the existing Get-In configuration and dressing room provision, however no changes are proposed to the current arrangement within this application.

Proposed stage area with wings reinstated

27 March 2021 | Ian Chalk Architects Ventilation Strategy

28 March 2021 | Ian Chalk Architects High-level ventilation Extract - through Utilise existing existing lantern The existing ventilation is not satisfactory and in rooftop extract location poor working order. An original supply unit which fan is no longer fit-for-purpose is located within a rooftop plant space behind the front facade - routes and connections to the internal spaces cannot be verified. Minimal extract is provided by a unit Supply- mounted on top of the main auditorium roof and Utilise existing the venue suffers from overheating, particularly at brickwork plantroom higher capacities in the main auditorium space.

As part of the upgrade works to provide a Covid secure venue, an improved ventilation system is proposed. The existing supply unit will be removed and replaced with new modern air-handling units. Existing infrastructure will be cleaned, reconditioned and recommissioned. Originally, supply was provided from high-level grilles - the system will be reversed to meet modern design standards, with supply provided at low-level within the existing floor voids at stalls and circle. Section diagram showing principles for proposed ventilation strategy The existing extract fan will be directly connected to the high-level grilles to create an enhanced air flow and improved internal comfort. .

Existing supply - original to the building's construction Existing extract - above auditorium roof Original supply grilles - to be repurposed to provide extract

29 March 2021 | Ian Chalk Architects