How effective is Sustainability in Urban Design?
The Contact Theatre, Manchester
The Contact Theatre is located in Manchester University’s urban campus. The theatre was originally constructed in 1963. In 1999 Alan Short and Associates directed the refurbishment of the building in an attempt to improve its performance both as a theatre, and piece of sustainable architecture. Their strategy consisted of three main tasks: Firstly they aimed to amass and house the whole company under one roof, with a rehearsal room, a main auditorium and a studio theatre for their ‘Young Persons Company’. Secondly Short wanted to create a distinctive and bold design that would provoke a response from the general public around the Oxford Road, therefore transforming the theatre into a symbol, and instantly recognizable landmark in the area. Lastly and most importantly they aimed to alleviate the considerable financial load posed by maintaining the mechanical ventilation and cooling system.
In this case study we aim to analyze how effective Short’s refurbishment design was in terms of achieving a sustainable, energy efficient, passively ventilated structure, and how successfully they executed this scheme according to their original criteria.
In this case study we aim to analyze how effective Short’s refurbishment design was in terms of achieving a sustainable, energy efficient, passively ventilated structure, and how successfully they executed this scheme according to their original criteria.