Capitol Theatre

Description:

BriggsAmasco delivered a durable, watertight roofing system to help transform a historic city centre theatre into state-of-the art offices for 700 staff.

The former Capitol Theatre is renowned as one of Aberdeen’s most beloved and strikingly-attractive buildings. A £30 million project carried out by developers Knight Property Group on behalf of Aberdeen City Council to restore the building’s glamorous, art deco frontage and convert the remainder of the site into 72,600ft2 office space took seven months to complete. The refurbished 12-storey property, which includes five floors of car-parking, now takes pride of place as the most dynamic feature on the city’s skyline.

For BriggsAmasco’s highly-skilled installation team, the Capitol Theatre’s roof refurbishment presented a number of challenges due to its city centre location. Situated in what is termed a “gap site” due to the building being “fitted“ into space between a pub and a former hotel, construction materials had to be transported from the ground floor to the roof in readiness for its installation. Lack of space meant a crane, positioned at the centre of the building to aid transportation, had to be operated “blind” by the driver, necessitating the use of two-way radios to ensure items were transferred safely.

For the roof’s installation, BriggsAmasco supplied an IKO hot-melt system. This tough, flexible, self-sealing membrane offers long-term protection against water ingress, a vital function in preserving 1930s-period fixtures and fittings which were retained and restored from the original B-listed building as part of its renovation. The hot-melt system was applied from a boiler, with 240mm extruded insulation and ballast layers – transported via crane – being placed on top. A number of paved walkways were also included in the installation.

As well as conforming to industry standards in terms of energy-efficiency, the IKO hot-melt system – a proven high-quality, long-term performer – comes with a 25-year guarantee, offering the client and the building’s occupants long-term peace of mind that the former theatre building and its stylish artefacts are safeguarded against the worst of the elements.

With installation work beginning in July 2015, the skills and experience of BriggsAmasco’s onsite roofing teams enabled them to overcome the testing working environment to ensure the waterproofing system was installed to the client’s strict, six-month deadline and complete satisfaction.

BriggsAmasco’s superb application of a high-performance, aesthetically-pleasing waterproofing roof system perfectly complements the Capitol Theatre building’s façade which has been restored to its full art deco-style splendour. It’s ensured the spirit of this former palace of entertainment will be retained long after its dramatic transformation.