• Location: Leeds, UK

The Hyde Park Picture House is one of the country’s most distinctive and historic cinemas. The Picture House plays a full role in the lives of its surrounding, diverse, communities and hosts many community events. Consequently, it benefits from great community support, a very active Friends organisation and many volunteers who welcome and serve audiences.

This £3m, highly technical refurbishment and extension project comprises conservation of the building, addressing urgent needs for repair; providing full accessibility throughout including WC areas and access to the foyers and auditorium; renewal of electrical and mechanical systems to improve audience comfort and environmental efficiency; a new entrance foyer and box office to improve the customer arrival experience; improved food and drink facilities; exhibition and interpretation to tell the stories of the building and its communities; a second screening and activity space for small screenings, learning, training and community use; and improved office, technical and storage space.

Avison Young were appointed to manage the project and design team from the start of design stage 4 through to tender action and delivery of works on site. We worked to a focused mobilsation plan to re-engage and reinvigorate the team and work collaboratively to make progress as efficiently as possible.

High Quality Heritage Aspects included:

• Exploring, celebrating and conserving the cinema’s rich heritage lies at the very heart of this project, the project will ensure this historic Grade II listed cinema is preserved for many years to come.
• Gas lights: As the only remaining gas-lit cinema in the UK, the nine gas lamps are a key heritage feature. As well as refurbishing them as part of the project the intention is to help preserve the skills required to maintain them, ensuring they keep flickering in the auditorium long into the future.
• Restorations: Elements of the cinema need urgent help to reinstate their former glory. From the ornate plasterwork and iconic clock in the auditorium, to exterior façade and original terrazzo tiles, the project will involve sensitively cleaning, restoring and refurbishing features throughout the building.
• 35mm film: Two 1960s Cinemeccanica projectors and a well-trained projection team enable the continued screening of film from 35mm prints. The project will ensure equipment is properly maintained, and also make provision for projection room tours to help share the history and tradition of film.

The Picturehouse Project is supported in a number of ways by principal funders, corporate sponsors, trusts, foundations and through public donation. The project also had the benefit of Heritage Lottery Fund Arts Council funding. As part of our role working directly for Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House LTD, the Picturehouse team and the day to day engagement with project stakeholders required, we are required to report, directly and indirectly, and deal with third parties on key aspects of the scheme as it progresses in order ensure ongoing engagement and support for the project, and that the conditionality of funding agreements is satisfied.

Given the profile of the project and specialist nature of historic elements, a Traditional procurement route was selected which carries significant design risk that the project team are tasked with managing. Quality control has been key in drafting the procurement documents to ensure clarity for the tendering contractors. Challenges around securing technical information on the construction of historic building elements highlighted the importance of completing technical surveys to factor into the design and mitigate post contract change risk. Careful consideration of contractor designed elements has also been key to make the most of the expertise that will be available to deliver in the most effective way possible, whilst maintaining design control over sensitive elements.

Service Type:-
Project Management

Client:-
Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House Ltd

Architect:-
Page Park

Will Nightingale

+44 (0)161 956 4045