Archway Expansion Project 2009
October 2009
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Now that the Arches 7,8,9 & 10 have been rendered and finished with a brick-red stone paint to match the brick facing of the original arches, the site is looking really coordinated. The Builders' cage and skip have been removed and it has been reassuring to find there has been no structural damage to the block paving underneath the shuttering ply laid to protect this surface.
When the interior details have been completed to the satisfaction of the Building Inspector, we shall be able to exploit the potential of the huge area created for us by Tony and Kevin, who have worked so hard on this exciting project.
August 2009
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The project is nearing completion, internal areas have been plastered and lighting circuits completed.
The boilers are installed and we approach "Break-through" from the main theatre to the new build. Externally the escape doors to the now"closed" arch arrive soon and Tony and Kevin & crew are blocking and rendering the window openings in the Studio and Function Room, which were previously secured by plywood panels!The face of the Workshop Arch will be rendered next week and new steps to the Workshop door will be laid. Now we have to think how we'll utilise the enormous internal space that has been created. The photos show some of the internal space and Tony Day at work!
June 2009
- The roof structure is now complete and awaits its felt roofing-we hope within the next two weeks.
Radiators have been installed along the flank walls of the open arch as eagle-eyed patrons may now see (16th June), what they will not see is the "behind the scenes" removal of our very old workshop boilers and relocation of the millenium boiler in their place.
A new boiler to provide heating and hot water to Arches 8,9 and 10( the "Open" arch and the studio/function room arches) is ready for installation.
We are getting close to the time when we can no longer refer to the "Open" Arch- as it will be closed except for its emergency exit doors.
We hope to report on cureent progress in more detail at the AGM on Wednesday 1st July
May 2009
- Walls are now up to mezzanine level and floor joists are in place as can be seen in the photos
- The floor slab is now complete, with steps leading down to the workshop Arch.
- The next task is to have the boiler re-sited and extra radiators positioned ( 7 in number) throughout the ground floor.
- We are really pleased with progress.
March 2009
- Theatregoers will have noticed that construction site vehicles have arrived at last to begin the next phase of improvements to the Theatre complex.
- On Tuesday 10th March our builders, Tony and Kevin Day, commenced work on the Waitrose side of the railway arches and by the end of the first week concrete foundations for the two storey extension were poured.
- The purpose of this new build is to link the original Theatre to the Studio and Function room via a passage from the present workshop through one of the many “Jack” arches . The formerly “open” arch will be dug out to attain a floor surface which will be on the same level as that of the Studio/Function room, and this new floor level will continue to the rear two storey extension.
- Within the new space we will have the potential to create two new Dressing Rooms, a Green Room,a new Boiler room and an Office on the Mezzanine level above one of the dressing rooms, as well as expansion of workshop and storage areas.
- Improvements which will enhance the outward appearance will include repositioning of the staircase to the Stage Door, rendering of the existing brickwork of the Workshop Arch to match the finish of the new wall closing off the “Open” Arch and a facelift to the Studio and Function Room facades.
- At the end of this phase our lovely Theatre will look smarter from the outside and will provide a more harmonious and spacious interior.
None of our planned programme of entertainment will be interrupted, but there will be limited space for parking close to the complex until work is finished; thereafter we shall arrange to have proper white-lined parking bays clearly marked on that part of the new block-paved area that we lease. - It is hoped that the work will be completed within 4 months, but this will clearly depend on weather conditions.
- This is an exciting stage in the history of the Archway Theatre…..
