Our expertise Our approach Where we operate About us Our projects Careers Sustainability Media Investors 107.80p Contact us Storyhouse Cheshire West and Chester Council < Back Developing Chester's largest and most ambitious ever creative project, working in a restricted city centre location, adapting the programme when a Roman building was discovered on site, restoring and revitalising a Grade II Listed building, creating new cultural spaces and receiving the Arts Council's highest ever score for a building. SECTOR: Leisure & Hospitality > Heritage, Arts & Culture > REGION: North West > The Challenge: Taking on an existing Art Deco building, retaining existing features and creating new facilities around the existing space. This had to be carried out within a substantial city centre development with public access on all sides, a pedestrianised zone to the South and residents in extremely close proximity. The building’s Art Deco brick walls and historically significant cinema interior had to be retained, but the existing spaces in the building were totally unsuitable for the kind of theatre and cinema that Storyhouse wanted to create. This meant designing around the features of the existing building, whilst accommodating the requirements of the completed structure. Re-programming was necessary early on in the project as the site was excavated after a two month archaeological dig which exposed evidence of a Roman barracks building and a Roman road. Finds included pottery shards, coins, cistern pits and terracotta roof tiles. The Solution: Before any brick was laid the team was quick to begin collaborating and engaging with several stakeholder groups. Specialist consultants were brought in for the heritage work and a number of key supply-chain partners were involved with the designers in specific workshops. Separate interview days were held for three subcontract packages - M&E, stage lighting & audio visual and stage engineering - to ensure the best people were engaged for these specialist areas. These were attended by Kier, the client and the design team. Early engagement and lean planning workshops were also vital in successfully highlighting and discussing problems and preventing potential delays further into the project. Workshops were held to map out key actions and ensure the completion date was met as well as to promote positive communication and collaboration between Kier, Cheshire West and Chester Council and design teams. The Impact: Storyhouse has already won 10 awards, including a RIBA North West Awardand LABC ‘Best Change of Use of an Existing Building or Conversion’ and has been nominated for several others. The Arts Council awarded Storyhouse their highest ever score (97% survey satisfaction) after visiting the site and meeting the team. The largest public building and the most ambitious creative project Chester has seen, Storyhouse is the only building of its kind in the UK unifying a cinema, library and theatre. Within its first 12 months of opening, 1 million customers have passed through its doors, meaning that it is officially one of the UK’s largest cultural visitor attractions. " The team are enthusiastic, collaborative and forward thinking. The team all have a culture that has existed throughout the project, understanding each other’s pressures and needs. " Jane Hetherington Project Delivery Manager Cheshire West and Chester Council View more projects Every project we deliver is an opportunity for us to bring our unique thinking to solve problems, innovate and collaborate with our clients and beyond. Our Projects > BUTLIN’S SPLASH, BOGNOR REGIS Building a £40m state of the art swimming pool and leisure complex within the existing Butlin’s resort in Bognor Regis, West Sussex. Leisure & Hospitality TRAGO MILLS Developing the first site outside Devon and Cornwall for Trago Mills, an independent, family owned and run discount leisure retailer. Bringing much needed employment to the area it includes 11 retail units, external sales area, café, garden centre, goods yard, ice cream stall, bandstand, adventure dome and model railway. Retail Leisure & Hospitality 1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435 Quick links: Investors Careers Site Map Phishing Other Kier sites Ayton Products BAM Ferrovial Kier Eiffage Kier Ferrovial BAM Kier Group Fellowship Trust Solum Regeneration Source Design Services Legal Terms of Use Cookie and Privacy Policy Accessibility Useful documents Kier Annual Report 2021 Building for a Sustainable World - our Sustainability Framework Modern Slavery Statement Positive Footprints- Our social impact report Fast Facts - May 2021 Registered in England No.2708030 Kier Group plc. Registered office: 2nd Floor, Optimum House, Clippers Quay, Salford, M50 3XP Copyright 2021 Kier Group PLC