RSC Transformation: Project journal

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2009

2008

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Project journal

Autumn/winter project update

Peter Wilson Project Director: 27 October 2009

The project is now well into the last year of construction. The lifting of the viewing platform and its prefabricated brick flanking walls at the end of September saw the completion of the main external elements that shape the transformed Royal Shakespeare Theatre (RST).

Peter Wilson Project Director: 2 July 2009

The latest Royal Shakespeare Theatre site news from our Project Director Peter Wilson.

Peter Wilson Project Director: 11 February 2009

My plan was to produce another update in early January, looking forward at our February plans but, for a variety of reasons, including a very nasty form of flu for some key members of our team and then the spectacularly wintry conditions which we’ve had to contend with, I’ve not been able to do this till now. So here's a look at what's happening in February and the coming months.

Peter Wilson Project Director: 26 November 2008

You may not know that our approach to the construction is via construction management. This allows us to buy the early ‘trade packages’ of work, such as the demolition, the piled foundations and the concrete and steel structures before we buy and design the work that comes later on, such as all of the electrical and mechanical services.

Peter Wilson Project Director: 22 October 2008

Two new trade contractors have begun work: KLH are installing timber floor decks for the new steel structures and are working on the riverside whilst Stage Electrics are removing old cabling and trunking in the basement of the Swan Theatre.

Peter Wilson Project Director: 15 October 2008

For those of you peeking over the hoardings this week you can now see the first level of the tower lift shaft. This will be constructed level by level over the next few weeks then the exterior of the tower will be constructed around it.

Peter Wilson Project Director: 8 October 2008

Contractors John Doyle complete the basement concrete slabs, work on the lift shafts and basement walls, and use a diamond saw to cut new doorways in the 1932 brick flytower.

Peter Wilson Project Director: 1 October 2008

This week's activity is a combination of completion of the concrete works and the continued installation of the lesser steelwork for the backstage accommodation.

Peter Wilson Project Director: 24 September 2008

This week Billingtons work reaches a much more public phase, with the arrival of a large mobile crane which is putting together the prefabricated sections of the giant roof trusses that will span the new thrust stage.

Peter Wilson Project Director: 10 September 2008

During the current week all of the concrete work is complete to the mid level of the auditorium and work continues on the upper walls.

Peter Wilson Project Director: 3 September 2008

Work on the concrete ground slab of the new actors accommodation on riverside has now been completed.

Peter Wilson Project Director: 27 August 2008

The concrete superstructure of the shell of the new thrust stage auditorium for the Royal Shakespeare Theatre has reached its full height on the riverside of the site.

Peter Wilson Project Director: 20 August 2008

This week a newly appointed scaffolding contractor, Sky, are at work on the riverside, creating a temporary access stairway and Lesterose, one of the UK's largest brickwork contractors, begin their first preparations for their part in the project.

Peter Wilson Project Director: 13 August 2008

Our demolition contractor DSM returned to form the opening in the brick wall of the stage left wing that will become the get-in door for the RST: it has an important role to play in providing access to the fly tower during the construction project.

Peter Wilson Project Director: 6 August 2008

The walls, cores, columns and floor slabs of the thrust stage auditorium are now well under way and new structures are clearly visible from beyond the site boundary hoardings.

Project Director Peter Wilson: 30 July 2008

A major activity still to be completed is the excavation of the basement under the thrust stage. Very wet conditions have meant that special means are needed to exclude the underground water from the area.

Peter Wilson Project Director: 23 July 2008

Contractors John Doyle will work on the concrete substructure and superstructure including the new basement for the thrust stage.

Peter Wilson Project Director: 16 July 2008

Work on the auditorium has moved around to the town side of the site and is now visible above the hoardings.

Peter Wilson Project Director: 9 July 2008

Preparations for the new basement continue with the sinking of wells to help reduce levels of water within the excavations.

Peter Wilson Project Director: 2 July 2008

There's a good deal of preparation for our open day 'Site Sunday' this coming weekend to ensure that visitors can access the site safely and comfortably.

Peter Wilson Project Director: 25 June 2008

The departure of the large yellow mobile crane will herald the end of the demolition works and the departure of DSM, our demolition contractor who have been with us throughout our first year on site.

Peter Wilson Project Director: 13 June 2008

John Doyle, the concrete works trade contractor, continues to work on foundations for the new 1000 seat thrust stage auditorium.

Peter Wilson Project Director: 28 May 2008

Excavation work – which will include a new 7 metre deep sub-stage basement – has begun with the excavation for the west core of the new theatre.

Peter Wilson Project Director: 21 May 2008

Last week saw the achievement of a major project milestone: the completion of the piling works by Cementation.

Peter Wilson Project Director: 7 May 2008

The most significant activity on site this week is the erection of the first tower crane in the old Royal Shakespeare Theatre car park.

Peter Wilson Project Director: 30 April 2008

DSM, our demolition contractors, have begun to demobilise their plant, amongst the last pieces of work have been the creation of a base for piling between the Library and Picture Gallery and The Swan, and the completion of demolition work to the backstage lift.

Peter Wilson Project Director: 16 April 2008

The flytower roof demolition is almost complete, as is the demolition of the fountain stair roof.

Peter Wilson Project Director: 2 April 2008

We have now begun a period when progress on site is barely visible from outside of the hoardings.

Peter Wilson Project Director: 12 March 2008

During this week DSM are breaking out the old stage door floor slab and preparing the former Green Room area for piling work for the new dressing room block. Demolition works within the fly tower are also continuing.

Peter Wilson Project Director: 5 March 2008

A number of bat boxes have been installed under the supervision of our environmental consultants.

Peter Wilson Project Director: 27 February 2008

Preparations for the piling contractor to begin work were completed. This week sees the beginning of a new phase with the arrival of the piling contractor, Cementation, and their equipment.

Peter Wilson Project Director: 20 February 2008

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.

Peter Wilson Project Director: 13 February 2008

Preparations are under way for the demolition of the fly tower roof (not visible from the street as it is below the fly tower parapet) and for the demolition of the stage door and of the block between the Swan auditorium and the Swan Library building to the south of the stage wing.

Peter Wilson Project Director: 6 February 2008

The last elements of demolition adjacent to the Fountain Staircase and balcony stair continue and preparations for the piling contract are nearing completion. The installation of temporary supports within the fly tower basement have begun.

Peter Wilson Project Director: 30 January 2008

At the Swan Theatre end of the site the demolition of the dressing rooms continues - 5,000 bricks have been reclaimed for re-use thus far.

Peter Wilson Project Director: 16 January 2008

Dressing room demolition and brick reclamation continues. The Swan Theatre's temporary electrical supply is being installed so that background heating can be provided there.

Peter Wilson Project Director: 9 January 2008

Demolition work continued with the removal of rubble from the auditorium and the dismantling of the old stage lift. Test piling in the former car park at the front of the RST foyer took place before the holiday and the piling rig was removed early in the New Year.

Peter Wilson Project Director: 19 December 2007

An area of the site has been cleared of demolition materials to allow some test piling to be undertaken.

Peter Wilson Project Director: 5 December 2007

Demolition work continued as planned with the removal of the remaining auditorium balcony.