Building Design Partnership - General - London, The Royal Albert Hall

Date: 01 Apr 2004

The Royal Albert Hall was officially re-opened by HM The Queen today (Tuesday 30 March 2004) after a ten year £70M programme of redevelopment.

Building Design Partnership was commissioned in 1990 to devise a masterplan for the first comprehensive refurbishment of the Royal Albert Hall since its completion in 1871 and has been the lead architect, engineer and cost consultant for the subsequent design and its implementation.

Nick Terry, BDP Chairman, said "It has been a great privilege to undertake the most comprehensive programme of development and restoration of what has become a major national monument. The Royal Albert Hall has been restored to its former glory and developed to meet the needs of the 21st Century. BDP's team was led by project architect Martin Ward who worked closely with client and contractor to undertake a staggering range and scope of work."

Implementation of the Masterplan began in 1994, and has been phased over ten years to avoid disrupting the Hall's programme of events, which has continued as normal throughout.

The South Steps and surrounding terraces were removed in January 1998 to allow for the excavation and construction of a new four-level basement housing plant rooms, new dressing rooms, workshops and an underground service yard, along with a car park for local residents. The terraces have now been replaced, the gardens re-landscaped and the Memorial has been restored.

Refurbishment within the Hall has improved conditions in the auditorium and throughout the foyers, upgraded backstage accommodation for artists and staff, and made it easier to put on a wider variety of shows and other events in the Hall. Audience comfort has been improved by rebuilding the seating tiers, and is further improved by the introduction of an effective ventilation system in the auditorium. The completion of the basement service yard has made it possible to remove service traffic from the area around the Hall and improve its setting.

The new South Porch, designed to complement the original East, West and North Porches, was one of the last phases of the development to be completed and was unveiled just in time for the 2003 Proms Season
The Refurbishment of the Royal Albert Hall has been partly funded by grants from the Arts Council and Heritage Lottery funds.

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