Type
Fit out
Client
Balfour
Location
Lewisham
Value
1.4 million
Role
Principal contractor
Duration
19 weeks
Background
The Lewisham Gateway Cinema project involved the delivery of a 9-screen cinema shell, providing a high-quality structural and acoustic base ready for final fit-out. Delivered within a tight programme, the project required precise coordination, specialist construction methods, and robust acoustic performance.
Scope of works
- Structural steel cinema stadia systems
- Installation of acoustic isolators and specialist steel framing
- Concrete plank and in-situ concrete flooring systems
- High-performance structural solutions to meet cinema acoustic standards
Technical delivery
To meet the varying structural and acoustic requirements across the 9 screens, two construction methods were employed:
- Precast Concrete Plank Stadia
Acoustic steel frames were installed with precision, followed by precast concrete planks to form the main seating tiers, ensuring speed, accuracy, and acoustic performance. - In-Situ Concrete & Metal Decking Stadia
For complex layouts, metal decking was fixed to the steel framework and concrete poured in-situ, delivering a seamless, durable floor finished to SR2 standard.
Challenges
The challenge was to carry out this work with the cinema and foyer still operational. Which included internal structural alterations to the foundations, and to the high-level steelwork, and the install of new structure to form the auditorium.
Solutions
Through detailed planning and a dedicated traffic management strategy, we implemented a controlled one-way system for deliveries, waste removal, and plant movements. Daily coordination meetings ensured seamless collaboration, maintaining safety and keeping the project on programme.
Results
The project was successfully delivered within the 19-week programme, providing a high-quality cinema shell that met all structural and acoustic requirements, ready for final fit-out.
