Natural approach

A low carbon design and sustainable use throughout the life of the building characterised the design brief. The priority was to minimise running costs with sustainable design and equipment being the bedrock of the LMTT’s requirements.

Natural ventilation was favoured to provide a comfortable environment for both patrons and performers. This was achieved by making full use of the building’s fully exposed concrete structure and reclaimed brickwork walls which provided excellent thermal mass and the entire front façade is designed as a large screen of moveable sunshades. 

Air is distributed throughout the complex which comprises a basement bistro, street café and box office on the ground floor. There are three further floors with gallery seating, control room and auditorium. Waterloo supplied Airline Linear Grilles and Louvre Faced Diffusers as well as plenums and supply and exhaust valves. 

The Grilles not only satisfied the air diffusion requirements but met architectural specifications and aesthetics.

If an air distribution system is improperly applied or selected, it can have an adverse effect on comfort, air quality, noise, and energy conservation. Although the selection of air diffusers and terminal devices has a lot to do with aesthetics, the theatre was keen to achieve a solution that met its objectives and delivered optimal results.

"It was important that the grilles, louvres and diffusers we supplied could respond to the theatre’s air flow requirements,” says Rick Edmondson, Waterloo’s Chairman.

 "Our products met the high specifications whilst ensuring best value and helping the Everyman Theatre to reduce emissions and reach its sustainability objectives.”