QUEENS' HALL

                       Present Structure                                               Original Structure

CASE STUDY

Project : Queens' Hall Renovation

Type Of Project : Structural

Director in Charge: Anthony Farrell

Design Engineer : Giselle Chanona

Design Team : Gillespie & Steel Ltd (Architects)

                        C.E.P Limited (Structural Engineers)

                        ENCO (Electrical and Mechanical Engineers)

                        NH International (Contractor)

Cost (TTD): $34 million

Description :

The original structure built in the late 1950's was one of the earliest C.E.P. Ltd (then David Key and Partners) projects and was distinctive for its unusual structure and appearance. It was and still is an architectural icon. The structure, which served as a community centre, a theatre and a concert hall, spans 27.75m and consists of a 75mm thick reinforced concrete shell corrugated in iron section and spanning as an arch onto columns at 3m centres.

In 1999 the government approved expenditure for the upgrade of the facility into a full concert hall of international standard.

Challenge :

The challenge was to upgrade a community centre facility into a full acoustic concert hall to international standards with a seating capacity of 800 while maintaining the distinctive look of the original building.

Solutions :

  • Gut the entire building
  • Build new internal structures for the new sloped seating (reinforced concrete) supports for the required catwalks, stage lighting, permanent acoustic panels and draperies (structural steel), stage, stage props mechanisms and hydraulic orchestra pit.
  • Re-use and significantly strengthen some of the original stage structures and foundations.
  • Remove the original space frame roof over the stage, and raise it several meters for headroom requirements and replace it with a roof consisting of structural steel beams and a composite decking slab.
  • Lay underground reinforced concrete box tunnels required for hidden access to the stage.
  • Fit the new orchestra pit with a lift mechanism that raises a portion of the floor, which is used for moveable seating when no orchestra is used.
  • Repair and waterproof existing thin shell structure (75 mm thick).

Results :

The finished facility maintains the original look of the old structure but is a full concert acclaimed by international practitioners who have performed in it like the artistic director of the Royal Opera House Chamber Ensemble.