Hall for Cornwall
Cornwall

Major refurbishment and remodelling of the Grade II* listed Hall for Cornwall. A new auditorium meets the increased demand for capacity, while much of the remaining building is sensitively rationalised and restored to modern standards and requirements, improving performance, audience comfort and accessibility aspects.

The stage is designed for maximum flexibility, as the hall provides a multi-purpose venue, supporting pop, rock and classical music, comedy, as well as community activities.

The addition of a new café helps with commercial revenue, and a new foyer created from the existing arcaded entrance greatly improves circulation.  

The biggest challenge is to completely remodel the auditorium, which involves digging down to improve sightlines and provide a plenum under the stalls so that cool air can be introduced in the most favourable place. This all has to be achieved while works continue on top of the existing auditorium roof.

Prior to starting the excavation of the new plenum, steel plunge columns are installed through the existing ground floor slab. This allows new columns to be welded on and for the new steel auditorium structure to be erected using mobile cranes sat on the existing ground floor slab. This design results in a significant programme advantage as well as a reduction in the thickness of the concrete raft as the plunge piles can be used to resist flotation forces due to ground water.

The Hall for Cornwall secured £5m Arts Council funding 2016. 

Project Information

Client

The Hall for Cornwall

Architect

Burrell Foley Fischer

Value

£19.8m

Photography

Burrell Foley Fischer

Awards

LABC Building Excellence Awards South West - Best Public or Community Building 2022

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