With a worldwide reputation as a drama school and alumni such as Jeremy Irons, Sir Daniel Day-Lewis and Sir Patrick Stewart, The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School is housed in an Edwardian building complex within the Clifton conservation area in Bristol.

We have been instructed as Project Manager and CDM-C for a £1.3m two storey extension which will unite two buildings on the site and provide a new and fully accessible main entrance and foyer together with new rehearsal studios. New kitchen, laundry, storage and office facilities have been created and the student changing rooms have been refurbished.

The building’s function means that a number of specific client requirements had to be met, from acoustic performance, space (high enough to wield a sword!) and semi-sprung floors for dance.

A key part of the scheme is the adaptation of the existing buildings to make the rehearsal studios fully accessible in accordance with current building regulations and DDA Guidelines.

To enhance the sustainability of the scheme, several small boilers and plant rooms will be replaced with modern BMS-controlled gas-fired boilers in a central plant room to serve the whole site. PV arrays are also planned. The site will remain occupied throughout the 31 week build.