Brighton Dome Corn Exchange & Studio Theatre, Brighton

The innovative and sensitive redevelopment, repair and restoration of the Brighton Dome venues has transformed them into an arts and performance destination to surpass the expectations of the local community and visitors alike. 

The project embraced two listed buildings: the Regency-period Corn Exchange (Grade I) and the 1930s Studio Theatre (Grade II, listed as the Pavilion Theatre and Booking Office). Both had limped along in part-time use for many years, without adequate access, services or supporting facilities. 

By purchasing attached buildings from various owners, the city council was able to commission the architects to unlock the historic spaces’ potential. At the site’s core, an added ‘plug’ of carefully composed supporting accommodation includes accessible reception, foyer, bars, staircases and WCs. 

Within the new building, the architects were also briefed to create Anita’s Room – a space made available to local community groups, organisations or individuals, for residencies to support research and development in theatre and music. This new element also serves to deliver light and views into the vast hall of the Corn Exchange. 

Built in 1806, the Corn Exchange originally housed the Prince Regent’s riding school, attached to stables within the Dome itself. The unique, 10m-high timber-framed roof of this breathtaking 54 x 18m space required painstaking strengthening with the use of bolted steel plates. The historic wall finishes have been re-covered with new crafted oak cladding. 

It is the creation of the basement that has done most to allow the structure to meet the complex demands of a contemporary performance space. The architects’ bold proposal involved excavating beneath the Grade I-listed building, within and away from the walls of the main hall, to house back-of-stage facilities. 

The machinery, equipment and services accommodated there secure the building as an exceptional, highly adaptable and sustainable public venue for decades, or perhaps centuries, to come. As part of the drive for sustainability, the basement service corridor delivers air that has been cooled through a subterranean labyrinth and ducts, working with a natural stack ventilation system. 

The more intimate Studio Theatre was also refurbished and reconfigured with new balcony seating and supporting backstage facilities, to achieve greater versatility. It is now able to operate independently since it has its own lift and staircase, and is provided with a street-facing restaurant at ground-floor level. 

Funding was secured from the Arts Council England, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Coast to Capital and others to realise this phenomenal reinvention. The vision and ambition of the project has earned Brighton & Hove City Council the award of Client of the Year. 

See the rest of the RIBA South East winners here. And all the RIBA Regional Awards here.