The Firestation

Project Overview

The Sunderland Music, Art and Culture Trust is developing a music, arts and cultural quarter (MACQ) in the centre of Sunderland, that will restore and re-establish the area’s previous importance as the Edwardian heart and soul of the city. The Auditorium and the Edwardian Fire Station together form a continuous façade to a south facing public square. The century-old fire station has been refurbished into a performance venue in Sunderland’s Music, Arts and Cultural quarter. Acoustic considerations initially suggested a concrete solution, but the frame was changed to a fully steel structure resulting in excellent acoustic performance in a very flexible facility, that was produced at substantially lower cost.

A key driver of the brief for the auditorium was the need to address Sunderland’s lack of appropriately sized specialist venues for music, drama, and dance. As a result, the new auditorium is designed to accommodate audiences of 500 people seated or 800 people standing in a variety of layouts. The hall has been designed to work equally well for amplified music or a natural acoustic, for the staging of drama, dance or comedy, conference events and film screenings. The Parade Ground to the rear has been opened to the public with an outdoor stage allowing the venue to host outdoor as well as indoor events.

Awards:

Civic Trust Awards: National & International Winner

BCSA Structural Steel Design Awards: Commendation

Schüco Excellence Awards: Cultural Building Winner

North East Culture Awards: Best Museum or Cultural Venue

Constructing Excellence North East Awards: Project of the Year (Shortlisted)

IStructE Northern Counties Structural Awards: Large Projects Award Winner

Insider North East Property Awards: Public-Private Collaboration Award Winner