As a result of our long-term association and pioneering work at Brighton College, Skelly & Couch has been commissioned to provide M&E works on a third major project at the school, part of the College’s £100m masterplan. Previously, Skelly & Couch successfully delivered the Brighton College Music School in 2015 and the innovative Sports and Science Centre, which opened in January 2020.

The 3000m² structure will provide a multi-functional theatre space and performing arts centre which will feature, at the heart of the building, a 400-seat smart theatre allowing for high levels of natural daylight, multi-purpose studio spaces, and high-quality circulation space and classrooms.

The new performing arts hub will be constructed in a tight, listed site surrounded by the school’s Sir Gilbert Scott-designed main building and will jut out of the green campus landscape like a white chalk cliff. Skelly & Couch is assisting with the design of the building to planning and beyond through to Stage 4 tender, as well as carrying out client-side checking of the design and build contractor information, plus site checking and reporting.

The building will be the fourth on the College’s site (alongside the Music Hall, Sports & Science Centre and the Kai Yong Yeoh Academic building) to be connected to the open loop borehole system surrounding the school’s sports ground, which will provide sustainable, renewable heating and cooling throughout. The scheme also has the potential for a large photovoltaic array system.

The new performance arts centre will be designed to achieve a targeted BREEAM rating of Excellent.