Flood compensation works completed
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Peter Wilson
Project Director - 20 February 2008
Over the last week the demolition work in the auditorium area was completed, except for the base of the orchestra pit. The weak wall adjacent to the riverside elevation of the Swan Theatre was stabilised by tying it back to the Victorian auditorium wall.
The flood compensation works in The Dell were also completed. The area has been sown with a mixture of grass and wildflower seeds and will remain fenced off whilst the new seeds germinate and establish themselves. The flowering and self-seeding of the wildflowers will not be completed until late summer. This part of the exercise is a part of our Transformation project's commitment to improving the biodiversity of the riverside landscape.
During the current week, the demolition contractor, DSM, will remove of a metre-thick layer of concrete beneath the orchestra pit which was not expected to be found. They are also investigating potential clashes between the locations of the original auditorium foundations and the planned locations of the piles for the new auditorium. If needs be, more old piles will be removed.
The demolition of the stage door and related accommodation located to the south of the RST's west stage wing has also commenced. These are the final visible demolitions although demolition work is still taking place within the RST fly tower. Preparations are also in place for piling work in the area of the former Green Room on the riverside.