Theatre construction work

Tender description

Objectives The main objectives of the plan are: — Improving the centre's exterior image and making it more contemporary; — Promoting and encouraging more involvement from young people in the centre; — Increasing the use of the centre and the income that comes from it; — Improving the centre's accessibility. Invitations to tender We invite tenders for 2 pieces of work: 1. A tender from a team of designers/architects with input from a visual artist; 2. A tender from a business advisor. Tenders are requested (1) From architects or architectural designers (we would prefer tenders which combine work and architectural expertise and visual artist ideas); (2) From business advisors for a feasibility study to adapt Canolfan Arad Goch. The feasibility study will be a basis for financial applications and plans and for a capital project to make further modifications and changes to the centre. Arad Goch Theatre Company has a distinguished centre in the middle of Aberystwyth town. The centre was developed between 2006-2008 with a significant sponsorship of over 3 000 000 GBP from several quarters, including lottery money through the Arts Council of Wales. There is a theatre, a rehearsal studio, an exhibition gallery, am art/workshop room, sound and video editing facilities, a meeting room, changing rooms for performers and the company's archive. During the coming years, we aim to increase the use of the centre, especially by young people (i) Through events organised by Arad Goch and (ii) Through events organised by young people themselves; in addition to this, we aim to increase income (iii) By renting out the centre's spaces and facilities to be hired by organisations, art institutions and other artists and commercial bodies. Front of the building Through recent consultation, we've discovered the the front of the building is unwelcoming — especially for young people — and appears old fashioned. This doesn't reflect the contemporary nature of the work and activities that occur inside the building. The foyer The foyer — which is a ‘wind foyer’ between 1 sliding door to the outside and 1 sliding door to the reception — is dark and unwelcoming. Young people, especially, have told us that this area prevents them from coming into the building. The floor is sloping to enable access to wheelchairs and prams. The reception The reception is used as a waiting area before entering the theatre space; it is also used to display art and photography exhibitions. The company hopes to hold more public activities for young people with the intention of providing some refreshments; this need modifications. The requirements 1. Modify the front of the building — architecturally and structurally or visually — in order to make the building more contemporary, appealing and prominent from the outside. 2. Modify or redesign the foyer — architecturally and structurally or visually — in order to make it more contemporary and appealing, and to appear more open, whilst keeping wheelchair and pram access. 3. Modify the reception in order to enable the provision of food and drinks. 4. Consider the accessibility study recommendations and design for implementation as part of the whole package. These requirements can be considered independently from each other or as a package of modifications, additions or changes. When Canolfan Arad Goch was designed 12 years ago, particular attention was given to environmental factors: for example, the main performance space is ventilated by wind towers that do not consume energy and extensive use is made of natural light in ‘administrative’ areas and public parts of the building. This element should be considered as part of the feasibility study. Objectives The main objectives of the plan are: — Improving the centre's exterior image and making it more contemporary; — Promoting and encouraging more involvement from young people in the centre; — Increasing the use of the centre and the income that comes from it; — Improving the centre's accessibility. Invitations to tender We invite tenders for two pieces of work: 1. A tender from a team of designers/architects with input from a visual artist; 2. A tender from a business advisor. The 2 advisors / the 2 teams will be expected to work in collaboration. Their work will be used to form a development project and a capital application to the Arts Council of Wales and, possibly, other financiers. Arad Goch Theatre Company will own the study and the work commissioned.