His Majesty's Theatre - Public Architecture

His Majesty’s Theatre
- Extension & Refurbishment
7
Introduction
The distinctive physical character of Aberdeen,
‘The Granite City’, retains its history, traditions and
values, with 18th and 19th Century buildings presenting
a strong image reflecting the hardy character of the
citizens. As Europe’s Oil Capital, it is a dynamic
modern city. An integral part of the fabric and culture
of this historic city is the Frank Matcham designed
His Majesty’s Theatre.
Situated to the north end of Union Terrace Gardens,
the theatre, which is regarded as the premier venue
for the performing arts in the North East of Scotland,
enjoys a magnificent urban setting. The building is
located within a sensitive conservation area and
forms part of a group of buildings known locally as
Education, Salvation and Damnation. The other
buildings within the group being the Central Public
Library (1891) and St Marks Church (1892).
Built in 1906, the category ‘A’ Listed Theatre has, as part
of this project, undergone a £7.9 million redevelopment
to both extend, refurbish and carry out internal alteration
to enhance the existing facilities and make the building
Reception area in new extension with greatly
improved facilities and access
more accessible to a wider range of users. The project
was jointly funded by Aberdeen City Council, a lottery
grant from the Scottish Arts Council, Scottish Enterprise
Grampian and by private sponsorship.
Client Brief
The principal objective stipulated by the Brief was to
produce a scheme that overcame the shortcomings
of the existing building. These shortcomings were
identified as being centred on two main areas. From the
social aspect, the Theatre lacked a restaurant/café,
a venue for corporate entertainment and sufficient
SCALA
CIVIC BUILDING of the YEAR
JOINT 2006 WINNER
Major Project Category
His Majesty's Theatre
Sponsored by NPS Property Consultants Ltd.
Joint winner of the
SCALA Civic Building of
the Year Award 2006 -
Major Project Category
“I am delighted to have
won the Civic Building
of the Year Award.
Winning these prestigious
design awards recognises
the efforts of all members
of the team involved
in the design and delivery
of the completed
development.”
Trevor Smith
Principal Architect,
Aberdeen City Council.
For a list of the awards
sponsored by NPS
Property Consultants Ltd.
please refer to the end
of this article.
New extension with restored theatre behind
Project photos:
David Marshall

His Majesty’s Theatre 9
“The primary aim
of the design was
to build on the
fine architectural
statement made
by the existing
building…”
View at night attracting interest
bar space. From the operational side there was no
rehearsal room, dance studio or workshop areas.
In addition, the public toilet facilities did not meet the
present day requirements and were in such poor
condition that the building was under threat of closure.
Improved facilities for those with disabilities was also
a high priority of the brief. Prior to the alteration work
only the stalls area was accessible for wheelchair
users and there were few other facilities for anyone
with a disability.
The existing building was inward looking and
contained few facilities for daytime use. The Client
Brief stipulated that the new extension should create
a daytime entrance giving direct access to a new
box office, coffee shop and restaurant, all of which
should be clearly visible from outside to stimulate the
interest of passers-by and thereby act as a draw to
passing trade.
Design Rational
The primary aim of the design was to build on the fine
architectural statement made by the existing building,
which is regarded as one of the most attractive theatres
in the country, by embracing current concepts of
sustainability to create a modern structure which both
complements and enhances the existing Edwardian
building. The design uses high quality materials
sympathetic to those used in the existing building and
neighbouring buildings, which together with the theatre
form a cohesive urban architectural grouping.
Internal alterations to the major part of the existing
theatre have been designed to cause as little
disturbance to the main public spaces as possible.
Internal decoration within the refurbished areas has
Restored lobby area
been carried out in the same exuberant Edwardian
style as the original.

Crown Trade congratulates
Lawrence Milne Decorators
for their part in the splendid refurbishment
of His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen
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His Majesty’s Theatre 11
Building Description
The five storey extension adjoins the east elevation
of the existing building and occupies a site previously
used as a car park. The scheme has 3 levels of
accommodation below the level of Rosemount Viaduct,
(Rehearsal, Green Room, Offices, Public Toilets etc.)
1 level of accommodation at the viaduct level (Foyer,
box office coffee shop & toilets) and one further level
above (corporate hospitality suite and restaurant).
The main bulk of the building is therefore hidden when
the building is viewed from Rosemount Viaduct onto
which the main elevation of the theatre faces.
“An important
aspect of the
development is
the improvement
to the access
arrangements and
facilities for those
with disabilities.”
Internal alterations to the existing building include
substantial back of house improvements to specialist
stage equipment, alterations to toilet areas,
construction of new dressing rooms in the basement
and the general improvement of the internal circulation
within the building.
Site plan
An important aspect of the development is the
improvement to the access arrangements and facilities
for those with disabilities. To achieve this, two new
passenger lifts have been inserted into the existing
building. Further improvements include the creation of
a level access approach to the new foyer and the new
stage door, the provision of three new accessible
dressing rooms, accessible toilets at each level of the
auditorium and the provision of wheelchair spaces in
the Stalls, Dress Circle and the Upper Circle.
To match the clients desire for the project to create a
more open and accessible public image for the
theatre, and for the building to be highly transparent
Theatre interior restored to former glory
to advertise the theatre’s function, the main entrance
elevation is clad in frame-less glass. This also allows
the new restaurant to fully exploit the dramatic views
over the neighbouring Union Terrace Gardens.
The glazed front elevation contrasts with the remainder
of the extension, which is constructed in white Kemnay
granite. This locally quarried stone is the same material
that the external walls of the existing theatre are
constructed. Pre-patinated copper is used as cladding
for the roof of the extension as well as the soffit over
the new foyer and for vertical panelling to the new stair
tower. This copper will continue to patinate until it is
the same pale green as the existing theatre’s dome
which is also clad in copper. The new extension has
been designed in a simple modern style which neither
tries to mimic or compete with the existing building or
it’s historic neighbours. When viewed from the outside
the extension has a neutral, restrained almost
monochrome colour scheme, the colour, movement
and vibrancy coming from the buildings users and
interior lighting scheme.
Programme
Work on the extension commenced in August 2003.
The existing theatre closed to the public in March
2004 to allow the alteration and refurbishment works
to commence and the entire project was completed
in late August 2005 in time for the Gala opening,
which was attended by the Earl of Wessex on the
8th September 2005.

Fabrication
Erection
Structural Metal Decking
Mobile Stud Welding
Cladding
Safety Nets
Edge Protection
www.rim.uk.com
Are proud to have provided
the structural steelwork for
HM Theatre in Aberdeen
RIM FABRICATIONS LTD
East Leschangie, Kintore,
Aberdeenshire AB51 0XX
Tel: 01467 642582
Fax: 01467 642319
Email: info@rim.uk.com
RIM now in its 30th year in business, has been
providing steelwork and erection services to a wide
range of clients in a variety of industries.
A new purpose built facility, opened in 2003, has almost
doubled the production area to 37,500 sqft and expanded
capacity by approximately half, to 250 tonnes of steel a
week, allowing larger contracts to be undertaken. There is
ease of access to and from the facility, which is located
on the Midmill Industrial Estate, Kintore, just off the A96
and only ten miles from Aberdeen.
RIM works closely with sister companies, E-Blast Ltd
and E-Clad Ltd, both now also located at Midmill, with
the services of all available as a combined package.
E-Blast provides full surface preparation and coating
services, and have one of the largest painting facilities in
Scotland, with a 31,000 sqft main paint shop and a
15,000 sqft specialist paint shop, including the latest
Graco pumps and Gallito extraction units.
E-Clad offers full cladding services, including safety nets
and edge protection.

His Majesty’s Theatre 13
Credits:
Role Company Address Telephone Contact
Architects Aberdeen City Council (01224) 522318 Trevor Smith
Mechanical & Faber Maunsell (0131) 3137600 Gilles Charbonnier
Electrical Engineers
Structural Engineer Dinardo Partnership (01224) 640373 Karen Dinardo
Theatre Consultants Carr & Angie (01225) 446664 Keith McLaren
Planning Supervisors Currie & Brown Management Ltd (01224) 624484 John MacMillan
Quantity Surveyors Currie & Brown Management Ltd (01224) 624484 Graeme Duncan
“The new extension
has been designed
in a simple modern
style which neither
tries to mimic or
compete with the
existing building.”
Principal Contractor Robertson Construction Eastern Ltd (01224) 695498
SCALA Civic Building of the Year Award 2006
The SCALA Civic Building of the Year Awards 2006 were presented at ‘The Deep’
in Hull on 28 September. The Awards are made for outstanding examples of public
architecture and the winners were divided into Major and Small Project categories.
The list of Awards follow:
Sponsored by
NPS Property
Consultants Ltd
Joint Winners of the Major Project Category:
His Majesty’s Theatre
Client: Aberdeen City Council
and
Norwich Bus Station
Client: Norfolk County Council
Winner of the Small Project Category:
Baxter Park Centre
Client: Dundee City Council
Runner up in the Major Project Category:
Jubilee Library
Client: Brighton & Hove City Council
Highly Commended:
The Lanterns Childrens’ Centre
Client: Hampshire County Council
The Quadrus Centre
Client: South Tyneside Council
The Visual Arts Centre,
Gilesgate Sports College & 6th Form
Client: Durham County Council
www.publicarchitecture.co.uk
information and technology for construction & architecture in the public sector
See details of
award winning
schemes on the
Awards Base.