Project name: Chester Odeon Cinema – Regeneration of Chester

Client: Kier Construction

Scope: Mechanical demolition, soft strip and asbestos removal.

Duration: Multi phased over 2 years

Completion: 2016

RE:NEW was the name of the project responsible for transforming the 1936 Odeon Cinema building into the brand new world-class cultural centre ‘Storyhouse.’ The building was Grade II and had been empty and deteriorating since 2007. We undertook the following works within the regeneration package:

• Complete soft strip of former internal aspects of the Odeon
• Removal of all asbestos containing materials (ACM)
• Demolition of rear extension of the Odeon including; removal of rear elevation by hand and high reach excavator, thus opening up the rear of the cinema
• Removal by manual and mechanical means of concrete structural aspects, within a tight and restricted area. This included propping solutions for temporary supports to the building during the cutting and removal of structural beams
• Internal mechanical demolition within the structure using a 20 tonne excavator to break out of concrete balcony/floors

During our works, we were required to work safely around other trades and within a restricted traffic management arrangement.

The project converted and extended the existing building to house two flexible theatre spaces, boutique independent cinema, a 21^st century library and destination café bars.