Restoring a 1960’s dance hall to its former glory.
Playing host to many musical legends in its heyday, New Century Hall has been carefully restored to create a new and vibrant mixed-use space, which celebrates the building’s original features.
Sector
Mixed Use
Value
Confidential
Client
NOMA
Gallery
Built in the 1960s at the same time as the adjacent office blocks, the venue has played host to some of the biggest names in music including Jimmy Hendrix, The Who and Status Quo. The 8,000 sq ft dance hall features an original sprung dancefloor, wood panelled walls and striking disco ceiling, which were preserved as part of the renovation. A food market and creative college have now been added over the two storeys and two basement levels of this Grade II listed building.
Crookes Walker were appointed to undertake the MEP design and monitor installation, working with Workman, Shepherd Robson, Gleeds and Sheila Bird Studios. This included establishing the existing service arrangements and separating the MEP infrastructure to serve the three distinct new uses for the space.
As a listed building the challenge was to upgrade the building performance whilst retaining original internal features. The eye-popping disco ceiling remains a focal piece in the dance hall, so CWC worked around it to replace the MEP services above. Air change rates and distribution were improved throughout the building and the heating and cooling system were replaced, using heat pumps to reduce the building’s carbon footprint.
The result is a sympathetic restoration of a piece of modern history, upgraded for the 21st century.
Key stats
sq ft mixed use space
sq ft dance hall
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