Specifiers Journal 2015-2016

PUBLIC BUILDINGS
The demolition of the former
Café Royal building provided the
opportunity to create a dramatic
extension addressing the street corner
of Hope Street and Cowcaddens Road,
allowing the Theatre to celebrate the
corner in a fashion prevalent through
Victorian Glasgow. The form of the
extension is derived from the splendid
category A listed auditorium.
A new box office and café at stalls
level complements new bar facilities
at upper levels. To the east is the
‘core’, housing two 17 person lifts,
new toilets and an escape stair. Above
stalls level the core is repetitive in
plan to assist with wayfinding and to
breed familiarity with regular patrons.
To provide a column free interior
the edge structural articulation of
the various plan levels plays various
roles, cantilevering in one direction
towards the free standing middle of
the plan, sheltering the ground level
approach and finally shaping the roof
line expression. Requiring significant
depth to carry out these roles, the
lateral length of the structural columns
is exploited to frame a perimeter of
bays around the foyer, enclosed by a
stepping ‘in and out’ metal cladding
and glazing which wraps the structure
and associated acoustically tempered
ventilation boxes.
Selective improvements were made
within the auditorium, including the
provision of boxes for wheelchair
users and their companions at the rear
of the upper balconies, and the reseating
of the Stalls and Dress Circle
to improve sightlines and minimise
restricted view seats.
The new foyers provide welcoming
and accessible facilities and are
an appropriate prelude to the rich
Victorian theatre beyond. This
significant cultural project has been a
fantastic opportunity to create a major
new piece of civic architecture.
Credits
Architect: Page\Park Architects
Client: Scottish Opera
M&E Consultants:
Max Fordham and Partners
120 SPECIFICATION JOURNAL 2015-2016