Esplanade Appoints a Multidisciplinary Team led by architects61 for the Development & Construction of its Waterfront Theatre

Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay is pleased to appoint a Multidisciplinary Team of consultants to develop and construct its new mid-sized theatre situated along its busy waterfront. The Team is led by an established Singapore architectural firm, architects61 and comprises one of the world’s leading theatre, acoustics and digital design consultancy firm, Charcoalblue (UK, USA and Australia). The team was selected after a stringent and rigorous two-stage tender process which began in August 2017.

Photos Courtesy of Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay

Said Benson Puah, Chief Executive Officer, The Esplanade Co Ltd, “The winning team led by architects61 has also shown an understanding of Esplanade’s operating needs, the practical constraints of the proposed site, and the cost sensitivity of the project. More importantly, the team has proposed to build a theatre that would meet our programming and operational needs, prioritising the core functions of a performing space and intent of the theatre, and incorporating these considerations into the design proposal. Given their track record and experience, we are confident that they will be able to work closely with the Esplanade team to design and develop a theatre that would enable us to inspire our young and nurture the next generation of artists.”

Founded in 1974, architects61 has amassed a considerable portfolio of successful projects that have significantly contributed to the Singapore skyline—the latest ones in the Marina Bay precinct include the Jubilee Bridge (2015), Helix Bridge (2010), and Marina Bay Waterfront Promenade (2009). In its fifth decade of establishment, architects61 has won more than 200 Singapore and International Design Awards and BCA Construction Excellence Awards.

Said Mr Gieto Sugianto, Design Principal, architects61, “The proposed waterfront theatre will contribute to the overall Civic District experience and be part of the lively and burgeoning Marina Bay precinct with its raw and more casual character and attracting a younger audience. Together with Charcoalblue, we aim to create a more flexible format for the waterfront theatre to enable the programming diversity envisaged by Esplanade. In approaching the theatre design, we want to allow for a spontaneous encounter with the public through experiential and visual manner, seamlessly connecting the interior spaces with the exterior to create a variety of public spaces and tapping on the food & beverage outlets in the Esplanade Annexe.”

Charcoalblue was founded in London in 2004 and has grown to a team of more than 60 designers working across six international studios including Bristol, Glasgow, New York, Chicago and Melbourne. Their portfolio includes the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and two theatres for the UK’s National Theatre. They led the theatre and acoustic design of the recently opened flexible format theatre for Chicago Shakespeare Theater called “The Yard”.

Photos Courtesy of Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay

Said Mr Byron Harrison, Partner, Charcoalblue, “We are excited to work alongside architects61 to create this exciting new possibility for Esplanade. Responding to the variety of events that may be presented and the tight constraints of the site, we have proposed to build a flexible theatre space that uses some movable seating elements that will provide the potential for increased seating capacity beyond the 550 originally envisaged. The technical theatre and acoustic designs will respond specifically to the operational needs of Esplanade and the practical requirements of the performances that will be presented, from contemporary dance and theatre to more traditional art forms like Chinese opera and chamber music.”

The other consultants in the Team instrumental in executing the theatre design include J Roger Preston (S) Pte Ltd as Mechanical & Electrical Consultant and Meinhardt Pte Ltd as Civil & Structure Consultant working alongside specialists in façade, landscape, lighting, signage and wayfinding, greenmark, design for safety and interior design.

For the construction of the new waterfront theatre, Esplanade has also appointed SIPM Consultants Pte Ltd as the Project Manager in June 2017, and Rider Levett Bucknall LLP as the Quantity Surveyor in September 2017. They will be working closely with the Multidisciplinary Team led by architects61 for this project where construction is expected to start in early-2019, and completed in 2021. The new theatre will cost S$30 million—S$10 million of which will come from the government, and S$20 million of which will be raised by Esplanade through corporate sponsorship and public fundraising.

Please refer to Annex A for the full list of consultants in the Multidisciplinary Team. More information on Esplanade’s next stage of development is available here.

Annex A – Multidisciplinary Team

The Multidisciplinary Team for the development and construction of Esplanade’s new waterfront theatre comprises the following consultants:

• Lead Architect: architects61
• Theatre Planner: Charcoalblue (UK, USA and Australia)
• Mechanical & Electrical (M&E) Consultant: J Roger Preston (S) Pte Ltd
• Civil & Structural (C&S) Consultant: Meinhardt Pte Ltd
• Façade: HCCH Consulting Pte Ltd
• Landscape: COEN Design International Pte Ltd
• Lighting: Lighting Planners Associates (S) Pte Ltd
• Signage & Wayfinding: Acacia Design Consultant Pte Ltd
• Greenmark: Building System & Diagnostics Pte Ltd
• Design for Safety: DfSP Consultants Pte Ltd
• Interior Design: Architects61 + Charcoalblue LLP

Other consultants working together with the Multidisciplinary Team include:

• Project Manager: SIPM Consultants Pte Ltd
• Quantity Surveyor: Rider Levett Bucknall LLP

Visit Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay’s website here.