Liverpools Everyman Theatre

The Project

Liverpool’s recently opened Everyman Theatre is using advanced air distribution system designed by Waterloo Air Products Plc as part of a £28 million re-build.

With funding by the National Lottery, the Arts Council England, the European Regional Development Fund and the Northwest Regional Development Agency the theatreÂ’s owners Liverpool Merseyside Theatres Trust (LMTT) set about creating a modern sustainable theatre that pushed the boundaries and went far beyond the minimum requirements of current legislation.

Requirements

A low carbon design and sustainable use throughout the life of the building characterised the design brief, but an air distribution system was an essential part of the design criteria to stop the audience from fainting, as well as a roof that did not leak and an auditorium and stage accessible to disabled people.

The challenging priority was to minimise running costs with sustainable design and equipment being the bedrock of the LMTTÂ’s requirements.

Natural ventilation was therefore favoured to provide a comfortable environment for both patrons and performers.

Solution

This was achieved by making full use of the building’s fully exposed concrete structure and reclaimed brickwork walls, which provided excellent thermal mass, and the entire west façade is designed as a large screen of moveable sunshades.

The theatreÂ’s offices and ancillary spaces are ventilated via opening windows and the foyers are vented using opening screens and a large light well.

Air is distributed throughout the complex which comprises a basement, ground floor bistro, box office, and three further floors with gallery seating, control room and auditorium.

Waterloo supplied Airline Linear Grilles and Louvre Faced Diffusers as well as plenums and supply and exhaust valves.

Conclusion

The Airline Linear Grilles not only satisfied the air diffusion requirements but met architectural specifications and aesthetics.
If an air distribution system is improperly applied or selected, it can have an adverse effect on comfort, air quality, noise, and energy conservation.

Although the selection of air diffusers and terminal devices has a lot to do with aesthetics, the theatre was keen to achieve a solution that met its objectives and delivered optimal results.