Act two

When, in 2002, Arts Team was commissioned to design an extension to the Grand Opera House in Belfast, we were faced with how to reconcile the design of new foyers and backstage facilities with the much-loved, grade B listed Victorian theatre, built by Frank Matcham. On a practical level, our brief included creating a new 150-seat studio theatre (The Baby Grand), trebling the foyer area with four new bars, toilets serving every level, an enlarged stage and scene dock, new dressing rooms, stores and offices. However, on a symbolic level, the requirement was for something much trickier to achieve – a building which boosted the confidence and cultural life of Belfast. By working closely with the Grand Opera House to explore and realise the venue’s potential as a fully inclusive theatre for everyone, Arts Team came up with a contemporary design which both clarifies the historic identity of the original theatre and conveys the openness of the building. We aimed to achieve this through a design with exciting, colourful elevations which would stand out from the commercial buildings on the street.

A range of distinctive spaces and high-quality facilities encourages people to arrive early and stay late. The studio and foyer can be viewed as one space flowing into the other, and areas for casual performance further dissolve these boundaries and encourage those who have dropped in for a coffee or a bite to eat to return later to see a performance. Since reopening in 2006, the average secondary spend by members of the audience has more than doubled – a testament to the Grand Opera House’s status as an all-day destination and contributor to commercial regeneration in the city centre. Creating a space which appeals to local businesses and industries was a key priority when considering the new building. Its design and environment provide revenue generating opportunities, from conferences and meetings to tradeshows, product launches and training days. The space was also designed with local artists, craftspeople, schools and colleges in mind, and it was important to include space to display artwork, creating an ever-changing environment for regular visitors.
As the Grand Opera House wished to remain operational throughout the building process, we devised a 17-month construction programme, including two summer closure periods, to carry out work within the theatre and to create new links between front of house and backstage. Feedback from both audience and staff has been extremely positive. Comfort levels in the existing auditorium have been greatly improved (new ventilation and comfort cooling were installed, as well as increased provision for wheelchair users) and audience circulation issues have been resolved. Visiting companies and permanent staff have also praised the improved working conditions, get-in facilities and enhanced theatrical environment that contribute to the artistic and commercial success of shows. No matter how innovative or visually impressive an architectural design for the performing arts may be, if a building doesn’t function well it will not be successful. In the two years since its completion, the extension to the Belfast Grand Opera House has outperformed expectations and has become a lively and popular venue. Last year the project won Northern Ireland’s RICS Community Benefit Award.