The aims for the project include the restoration of the double height basement space in the Academy to create a new two-tier auditorium and stage area to accommodate 220 seated people. With careful sensitivity to the Grade I listing of the building, there are also plans to create high quality, flexible breakout spaces that will enhance the Academy’s accommodation for lectures, meetings and events. A remodelled basement kitchen, WCs and showers at basement and mezzanine levels as well as enhanced access to, and within, the ground floor will also add to the improvements.

Skelly & Couch is leading the survey of the existing services to plan diversions and demolitions of the works alongside an extensive review of archive record drawings for to understand the existing systems in place. Bespoke designs of new mechanical and electrical systems are also being undertaken to suit the constraints of the existing building and its listing. The energy efficiency of the site will also be assessed and improved through the introduction of new, high-efficiency systems.

The detailed design of the auditorium ventilation system has been modified to assist architectural and structural coordination to suit the tight space constraints and to determine listed building impacts.