EDITOR ’ S CHOICE
Frontage of Sadler ’ s Wells East showing the canopy . Courtesy of Sadler ’ s Wells
SADLER ’ S WELLS EAST
SCHÖCK CHOREOGRAPHS BESPOKE CANOPY
Sadler ’ s Wells East will join the rich cultural heritage of the East Bank development at Stratford , when it opens in 2024 at London ’ s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park . The design has many distinctive features , but externally a major focal point is the cantilevered canopy which runs the length of the frontage . Designed to carry a precast green roof , there were a number of design challenges , including the very high support loadings carried by the end profile of the insitu RC cantilever beams
Enhanced by the saw-tooth roof design , which reflects the industrial heritage of the site , the new theatre building has an auditorium that will present midscale work ; with 550 foldaway seats to create a more flexible , flat floor area , which will suit a range of dance formats . Six studios are working spaces with natural light and most of these have direct access to terrace spaces with views over the park . The L-shaped public ‘ living room ’ foyer will wrap around the building , opening out onto Stratford Walk and the public realm , where there is also outside performance space . It is a resource for the whole of the UK , offering a destination venue for dance companies around Britain and hosting the best work from international choreographers . Running the length of the frontage is a cantilevered canopy , designed to carry a precast green roof – and this presented a number of design and structural challenges .
A BESPOKE SOLUTION FROM SCHÖCK
The full length of the canopy is around 51m and it involves very high support loadings , which have to be carried by the end profile of the in-situ RC cantilever beams – each 500mm wide Isometric viewed from above .
Courtesy of Architect : x 950mm deep , with
O ’ Donnell + Tuomey . an overall cantilever of 4.6m . The span between the beams is 4.2m with a total of 12 beams making up the full
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