Up to date news from the Royal Shakespeare Company's Stratford Transformation project http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/ en-GB Copyright 2006 Royal Shakespeare Company http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/1426.asp 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@rsc.org.uk (Peter Wilson) Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:46:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/1338.asp The latest Royal Shakespeare Theatre site news from our Project Director Peter Wilson. peter.wilson@rsc.org.uk (Peter Wilson) Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:01:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/1164.asp 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@rsc.org.uk (Peter Wilson) Wed, 26 Nov 2008 12:45:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/1280.asp 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@rsc.org.uk (Peter Wilson) Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:50:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/558.asp The RSC have this week submitted a planning application for the transformation of its theatres in Stratford-upon-Avon to the local authority, Stratford-on-Avon District Council. peter.wilson@rsc.org.uk (Peter Wilson) Thu, 14 Dec 2006 07:12:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/1025.asp 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@rsc.org.uk (Peter Wilson) Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:20:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/1024.asp 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@rsc.org.uk (Peter Wilson) Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:35:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/1016.asp 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@rsc.org.uk (Peter Wilson) Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:45:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/1010.asp 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@rsc.org.uk (Peter Wilson) Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:25:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/1011.asp 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@rsc.org.uk (Peter Wilson) Wed, 01 Oct 2008 11:25:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/969.asp 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@rsc.org.uk (Peter Wilson) Wed, 10 Sep 2008 09:45:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/962.asp 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@rsc.org.uk (Peter Wilson) Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:25:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/968.asp Work on the concrete ground slab of the new actors accommodation on riverside has now been completed. peter.wilson@rsc.org.uk (Peter Wilson) Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:15:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/957.asp 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@rsc.org.uk (Peter Wilson) Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:15:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/956.asp 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@rsc.org.uk (Peter Wilson) Wed, 13 Aug 2008 09:30:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/949.asp 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. peter.wilson@rsc.org.uk (Peter Wilson) Wed, 06 Aug 2008 11:30:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/946.asp 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@rsc.org.uk (Project Director) Wed, 30 Jul 2008 11:05:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/942.asp Contractors John Doyle will work on the concrete substructure and superstructure including the new basement for the thrust stage. peter.wilson@rsc.org.uk (Peter Wilson) Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:08:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/941.asp Work on the auditorium has moved around to the town side of the site and is now visible above the hoardings. peter.wilson@rsc.org.uk (Peter Wilson) Wed, 16 Jul 2008 13:15:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/932.asp Preparations for the new basement continue with the sinking of wells to help reduce levels of water within the excavations. peter.wilson@rsc.org.uk (Peter Wilson) Wed, 09 Jul 2008 08:24:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/896.asp 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@rsc.org.uk (Peter Wilson) Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:50:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/877.asp 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@rsc.org.uk (Peter Wilson) Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:55:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/871.asp John Doyle, the concrete works trade contractor, continues to work on foundations for the new 1000 seat thrust stage auditorium. peter.wilson@rssc.org.uk (Peter Wilson) Fri, 13 Jun 2008 13:25:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/829.asp 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@rsc.org.uk (Peter Wilson) Wed, 28 May 2008 14:25:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/792.asp Last week saw the achievement of a major project milestone: the completion of the piling works by Cementation. peter.wilson@rsc.org.uk (Peter Wilson) Wed, 21 May 2008 10:25:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/789.asp 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@rsc.org.uk (Peter Wilson) Wed, 07 May 2008 16:40:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/788.asp 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@rsc.org.uk (Peter Wilson) Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:25:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/787.asp The flytower roof demolition is almost complete, as is the demolition of the fountain stair roof. peter.wilson@rsc.org.uk (Peter Wilson) Wed, 16 Apr 2008 09:35:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/714.asp We have now begun a period when progress on site is barely visible from outside of the hoardings. peter.wilson@rsc.org.uk (Peter Wilson) Wed, 02 Apr 2008 11:35:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/713.asp 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@rsc.org.uk (Peter Wilson) Wed, 12 Mar 2008 15:40:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/712.asp A number of bat boxes have been installed under the supervision of our environmental consultants. peter.wilson@rsc.org.uk (Peter Wilson) Wed, 05 Mar 2008 09:30:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/709.asp 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@rsc.org.uk (Peter Wilson) Wed, 20 Feb 2008 10:21:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/710.asp 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@rsc.org.uk (Peter Wilson) Wed, 27 Feb 2008 16:32:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/708.asp 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@rsc.org.uk (Peter Wilson) Wed, 13 Feb 2008 11:05:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/707.asp 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@rsc.org.uk (Peter Wilson) Wed, 06 Feb 2008 13:23:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/706.asp 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@rsc.org.uk (Peter Wilson) Wed, 30 Jan 2008 08:35:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/705.asp 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@rsc.org.uk (Peter Wilson) Wed, 16 Jan 2008 15:43:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/704.asp 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@rsc.org.uk (Peter Wilson) Wed, 09 Jan 2008 13:45:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/703.asp An area of the site has been cleared of demolition materials to allow some test piling to be undertaken. peter.wilson@rsc.org.uk (Peter Wilson) Wed, 19 Dec 2007 19:07:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/702.asp Demolition work continued as planned with the removal of the remaining auditorium balcony. peter.wilson@rsc.org.uk (Peter Wilson) Wed, 05 Dec 2007 03:36:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/641.asp If you think that demolition is about nothing more than a giant crane swinging a concrete 'wrecking ball' into a building then read on... peter.wilson@rsc.org.uk (Peter Wilson) Wed, 10 Oct 2007 06:57:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/611.asp Since I last wrote we’ve done lots: our construction manager, MACE, have taken possession of most of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre site, although the adjoining Swan Theatre is still in full performance mode until mid August. peter.wilson@rsc.org.uk (Peter Wilson) Mon, 16 Jul 2007 13:10:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/589.asp Well, we got a “recommendation to grant planning permission” from Stratford-on-Avon’s West Area Planning Committee on the afternoon of Thursday 19. peter.wilson@rsc.org.uk (Peter Wilson) Fri, 20 Apr 2007 07:12:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/585.asp I was expecting a few months quiet reflection on how we managed to carry out such a project in 11 months but instead we were straight into assessing how our new theatre worked and what we could learn from our lifesize prototype to help in the design of our permanent home in the RST. s.harper@rsc.org.uk (Simon Harper) Sat, 17 Mar 2007 10:33:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/541.asp Over the last two or three weeks the atmosphere in the Project Office – our in-house team’s one room base in the old Union Club building on Chapel Lane has changed. Of course, we’ve been overseeing the building of the Courtyard Theatre, the RSC’s temporary home for the project years, for many months now and my colleagues Simon Harper and Flip Tanner have donned their bright yellow jackets, site hats and boots and set off down Waterside to keep a watchful eye over construction work. peter.wilson@rsc.org.uk (Peter Wilson) Fri, 12 May 2006 15:44:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/477.asp Progress at the Courtyard is now faster than ever as more and more of the buildings final finishes are applied. Each day sees another transformation as rooms are painted, doors hung and carpets laid. As the building phase nears an end the works to turn our temporary home into a working theatre begin. simon.harper@rsc.org.uk (Simon Harper) Thu, 23 Mar 2006 05:45:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/417.asp We had the last big crane movement on site today putting the air handling equipment on the roof of the new theatre. This means we can now start installing the air conditioning. It’s a massive system that moves air very, very slowly to keep noise to a minimum. s.harper@rsc.org.uk (Simon Harper) Wed, 25 Jan 2006 15:21:00 GMT http://www.rsc.org.uk/transformation/project/284.asp It hit me this week that it’s no longer 2005, we’ve entered the New Year and that’s when the theatre opens so it all seems more immediate. It means we have to start organising not just the building but also the people that are going to move into it and use the theatre. s.harper@rsc.org (Simon Harper) Fri, 06 Jan 2006 12:27:00 GMT