The Bridge Arts Centre, Glasgow
- Client: Glasgow City Council
- Principal designer: Gareth Hoskins Architects
- Principal engineer: David Narro Associates
- Principal contractor: Kier Scotland
- Contract value: £8.5 million
About the project
The Bridge Arts Centre in Easterhouse has brought an empty site to life. The new building has been effectively integrated with an existing swimming pool and further education college and creates a new library, learning centre and a purpose-built arts facility, which provides a base for the National Theatre of Scotland.
It presented a challenging brief: to create an integrated 'bridge' for the community into performance, creativity and learning, and ensure access for all users where adjoining buildings had dramatically different levels.
The new centre provides an auditorium doubling up as a multi-function space for up to 650 people; rehearsal space; recording studio; café; community library; learning centre; a craft room; and offices.
Inclusive design has been achieved by, for example, the use of ramps, terraces and interweaving structures. Different finishes for different functions, including timber and smooth plaster painted in contrasting colours help to orientate the visitor. The auditorium has dedicated spaces for wheelchairs at performance and balcony levels.
The heavy form of construction for the theatre, suited for the acoustics, provided an opportunity for saving thermal energy; the library has underfloor heating and opening rooflights for cooling; and natural ventilation for the auditorium is achieved by six large metallic chimneys on the roof.
The judges said: 'A stylish and robust regeneration project, helping to unite the community'.