Lyric Theatre
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Theatre that provides an auditorium of 390 seats, a 150 seat experimental studio space and a rehearsal room for actors and local communities
The building is sited on sloping ground between the surrounding brick streetscape of Belfast’s centre and the parkland setting of the river Lagan. The three principal functions of the building are housed within separate brick-faced volumes, and are linked by brick-paved public circulation spaces and staircases.
The primary structure of the building is in-situ concrete, with a high quality finish for exposed interior walls and ceilings. Interior finishes also include brick, dark-stained timber iroko board to the auditorium lining and floor, and coarse buff sandstone flooring in public foyers.
Heritage red blend bricks form the theatre’s non-load bearing exterior. The Belfast bricks manufactured by Ibstock were chosen for their sharp angular edges, orange colour and potential to weather with age.
Handmade brick specials were made to resolve the folding geometries of the building’s form.
Data
- Begun: Jan 2009
- Completed: Apr 2011
- Floor area: 5,026m2
- Sector: Arts and culture
- Total cost: £18.1M
- Procurement: Two-stage design and build (design team novated)
- Address: 55 Ridgeway Street, Belfast, BT9 5FB, United Kingdom
Professional Team
- Architect: O'Donnell + Tuomey Architects
- Client: Lyric Theatre
- Main contractor: Gilbert Ash NI
- Quantity surveyor: Rider Levett Bucknall
- Structural engineer: Hogan Lynch
- Services engineer: IN2 Engineering
Suppliers
- Brickwork: Ibstock Brick
- Sandstone: Blackstone