Docking Station – Smitheries Studio

Tender description

The University of Kent (UoK) is seeking to appoint a supplier for the provision, installation, and training required to create an interim motion capture studio for the Docking Station project, Medway, in the existing Smitheries building on the Chatham Historic Dockyard. This studio space will be known in this document as the Smitheries Studio. The Docking Station project is led by the University’s Institute of Cultural and Creative Industries (iCCi) but has been developed in partnership with Medway Council and the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust and supported by Creative Estuary. The partners share Creative Estuary’s vision to forge a new future founded on creative energy and innovation, along the length of the Thames Estuary. The ambition is to give cultural industries room to grow by providing the right physical spaces for creative communities. The Docking Station will be a flagship development designed to inspire investment in Medway into creative and cultural industries, in particular digital arts and immersive technology, reinforcing Chatham’s position as a key cultural production hub within the Thames Estuary Production Corridor. The project is a key part of Medway Council’s cultural strategy being delivered through Creative Medway and will enable the transformation of this part of Chatham waterfront into a vibrant place providing social spaces, creative workspace, education and training and the opportunity to develop and experience state-of-the-art immersive technology. The project will involve the conversion of the Police Section House (PSH) – a Grade II listed Scheduled Ancient Monument – as well as the creation of a large new statement building to the rear of the property to house digital production studios. The new building will be located immediately behind the Police Section House connected via a simple covered walkway. The Design Team led by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios are now progressing with RIBA Stage 3 designs. In preparation for the completion of the Docking Station, an interim stud