Engineering consultancy Will Rudd has completed civil and structural engineering work on the redevelopment of Edinburgh’s Grade A listed King’s Theatre.
Working as part of the wider project team, the civil, structural and conservation engineering consultancy delivered services for the refurbishment, which modernised the theatre while preserving its historic character.
The works included raising the theatre’s fly tower by five metres to accommodate a new flying system capable of supporting modern productions, replacing the original stage with a flat performance stage, creating a larger and more accessible basement bar, adding a café through an extension to the existing building, and supporting installation of a new entrance canopy.
The site – surrounded by tenement buildings, narrow access lanes and one of Edinburgh’s busiest roads – required close collaboration and careful planning at every stage to deliver the structural works within a constrained city centre location.
Shirley Evatt, senior associate at Will Rudd Edinburgh, said: “Working with historic buildings requires a thoughtful and collaborative approach from the earliest stages of a project. By carefully balancing modern requirements with the needs of an existing structure, these buildings can continue to serve future generations while retaining the qualities that make them so valued.
“Projects like this demonstrate the importance of thoughtful engineering in supporting the refurbishment and continued use of historic buildings while respecting their architectural character and significance. It’s fantastic to see the King’s Theatre begin its next chapter, and a fitting reward for everyone involved in bringing this remarkable project to life.
“It has been a privilege to work alongside Capital Theatres and the wider project team to help deliver a project that will continue to play such an important role in Edinburgh’s cultural landscape for many years to come.”
Main image: King’s Theatre, Edinburgh. Credit: Copyright © Anneleen Lindsay
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