Caernarfon Arts Centre
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A creative arts building on the docks of the Menai Straits, North Wales. Constructed from three parallel sheds, the building houses a theatre/rehearsal space and offices
An inner shed contains the three large volumes, requiring large span structures, and flanked on either side by more domestic-scaled structural sheds.
The inner shed, which has the theatre at its east end and rehearsal rooms at its west end, contains a large atrium foyer space with circulation. The objective of the design was to ensure that as many offices as possible on the first and second floors open directly onto walkways in this atrium space so that their activities are visible from people entering the building.
The exterior of the building is largely formed of a steel frame and green oak boarding. This forms a natural weathered grey patina over the years and acts as a rain screen to the building. External walkways are formed of galvanised steel, with perforated lightweight metal decks, with the exterior wall adjacent to the entrance formed of board-marked concrete.
Windows are generally aluminium or steel. The interior of the building is filled with colour as a contrast to the relatively monochrome exterior.
Data
- Begun: Sep 2003
- Completed: Jan 2005
- Floor area: 2,393m2
- Sector: Arts and culture
- Total cost: £6.4M
- Funding: Private
- Tender date: Mar 2003
- Procurement: JCT
- Address: Galeri, Doc Victoria, Caernarfon, LL55 1SQ, United Kingdom
Professional Team
- Architect: Richard Murphy Architects
- Project architects: Adrian Welch, Chris Rhodes, Chris Rogers, Fiona Henderson, James Mason, John Walker, Richard Murphy, Tim Bayman
- Client: Cwmni Tref Caernarfon
- Project manager: Doig Hart Consultants
- Project supervisor: Wakeman Harris
- Structural engineer: Veryards
- Services engineer: Fulcrum Consulting/ WW
- Acoustics: Sandy Brown Associates
- Artist: Iwana Bala
- Artist: Catrin Jones
- Artist: Anne Catrin Evans
- Buidling Control: HCD Building Control
Suppliers
- Structural steelwork: Thircon
- Timber wall panels: Gustafs
- External spiral stairs: Spiral Construction
- External Cedar cladding: RA Williams
- Slatted-timber ceilings: SDM Joinery
- Timber Sliding doors: SDM Joinery
- Retractable Seating: Auditorium Services
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