ISG Jackson wins £25.6m theatre

ISG Jackson has landed a £25.6m contract to build the New Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury for client Canterbury City Council.

The firm beat off competition from Kier for the arts scheme which will see ISG demolish the existing theatre building, while retaining the fly tower, and create a new enlarged theatre and performing arts facility, designed by award winning practice Keith Williams Architects.

The reinforced concrete and steel frame structure extends up to five storeys in height, with a 1,200 capacity auditorium at the heart of the new building, configured in the form of stalls and two balconies.

A second flexible auditorium - termed the Second Space - will seat up to 150 people, but also double that number as flat floor space owing to retractable tiered seating.

The theatre complex will incorporate a piazza and riverside café with terraced area and include meeting and exhibition space. Spacious foyers and bar areas extend across all three floors in the main auditorium area, with an atrium and box office at ground floor level.

Externally the building will feature a range of striking architectural finishes to its façade including copper cladding, coloured render panels and large areas of curtain walling.

The project is due to start on site early next month with completion scheduled for spring 2011.