Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon

Client: Royal Shakespeare Company
Architect: Bennetts Associates Architects
Contractor: Mace Plus
Type of works: supply of natural and smoke ventilation systems.

SE Controls proudly accepted Deepdale’s offer to provide the smoke and natural ventilation solution to the £56.3m project at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Taking the lead in this project was Mace Plus, the contracting side of the Mace Group, using the Bennetts Associates Architects designs to upgrade the world famous theatre. SE Controls was selected to provide a smoke and natural ventilation strategy in the rebuilt restaurant area, the colonnade and the link bridge connecting the building to a newly built observation tower on the south east corner of the theatre, which provides views of William Shakespeare’s home town.

The work was split into two separate multi-zoned areas; the first being the restaurant area where they have four zones of glazed vents, operated by SCCO 24 30 concealed-chain actuators, connected to zonal control panels, provided by SE Controls to the fire alarm system and the BMS (Building Management System). The restaurant area is controlled by the BMS for natural ventilation in the north, east and west facades and can also be bypassed by a key-operated manual switch for natural ventilation. These are also connected to a fire alarm signal so that the vents will open in case of fire to expel smoke, to clear the area for evacuation of the customers and ensure the fire service can access the affected area. These will be then reset by fire personnel via manual reset switches.

The second zone is dedicated to natural ventilation for the colonnade and the link bridge. This side will be split in to five zones, controlled by a efficient and flexible multi-zone control panel, provided by SE Controls which will operate SECO 24 30 concealed-chain actuators which can be bypassed via key operated open close switches.