The Armstrong – Bringing a Community Venue Back to Life

Skeletal Consulting Engineers are pleased to see the completion and re-opening of The Armstrong (formerly Armstrong Hall), now open to the public as a refreshed community arts and performance venue.

The project has transformed the building, creating a more open and welcoming entrance foyer, while enhancing the functionality of the event space to support musical, drama and cultural performances, events and wider community use.

A key aspect of the scheme was the re-configuration of the foyer area. This involved opening up the ground floor area with the removal of existing load-bearing walls to open up the space and create a new entrance and bar area. Our role included the structual assessment of the existing load-bearing timber frame, removal of a significant number of internal columns, alongside the design of transfer structures on new timber columns and glulam beams to support the revised layout, allowing the space to be completely opened up while maintaining the structural integrity and stability of the building.

Elsewhere, the project required the formation of new openings through external walls, supported by the design of new lintels and associated temporary works. We also undertook load capacity assessments of the existing balcony to confirm its suitability for use during shows and events, as well as assessments of the roof structure to accommodate proposed over-roofing systems.

The result is a revitalised venue that balances the character of the original building with improved functionality, helping to bring a valued community space back into active use.

PM – Sanderson Weatherall
Contractor – Steele Davis