The project.

The Old Vic in South East London has been at the centre of London’s creative and cultural community for over 200 years. The theatre underwent a huge renovation project with the aim of making it an improved place for people to visit. The project included the reconfiguration of the foyer area, additional bar facilities and new accessible to all washroom facilities.

The challenge.

With space at a premium, it was decided that the existing male and female washroom areas would be changed into gender neutral toilets, helping to alleviate queuing and over-crowding. With the number of gender neutral toilets in the UK rising over recent years, the theatre set out to meet the needs of audiences and the local community.

Ensuring the new facilities would be accessible to all, two larger toilet areas were designed to accommodate those that require additional space, for example parents with young children.

The solution.

Modern and minimal Unity toilet cubicles were specified for the new washrooms at The Old Vic Theatre. Unity’s flush fronted rebated doors allow for end user privacy, while also making a big design impact in the reconfigured commercial toilet areas.
Security and safety is a high priority in busy commercial washrooms, so Unity’s emergency release indicator bolts made this toilet cubicle range a great choice for the bustling theatre’s new and improved washrooms. Safe access to locked toilet cubicles can now be gained within seconds without causing any damage.

The busy theatre needed to uphold robust security measures throughout the premises. Rapiduct’s flush panels mean the general public cannot access concealed duct space, which not only preserves pipework but also helps to keep visitors safe, as unsolicited items cannot be hidden in the voids.

The toilet cubicles and Rapiduct washroom panelling were both specified in Venesta’s dark grey “Gunmetal” High Pressure Laminate (HPL). HPL is well suited for use in heavily used washroom environments such as these, while the specified colour has helped created a minimal and timeless design that’s well suited to both genders.

The washroom renovation project has helped The Old Vic Theatre double its number of toilet cubicles, which is helping address the industrywide problem whereby queues for women’s toilets are significantly longer than those for men.