Town’s new performance venue taking shape

The 5,250 sq m (56,000 sq ft) venue is part of Doncaster’s controversial £300m Civic and Cultural Quarter (CCQ), and is being built on a former town centre car park.

Developer VINCI Construction UK said the venue is being constructed around 740 tonnes of steelwork which will support specially-designed concrete walls.

The walls have been designed to ensure the building, in Waterdale, near the town’s police station and courts, has the right acoustics for performances.

Contractors said the roof of the building is now being built and a glass facade was being installed which will offer visitors uninterrupted views of the CCQ’s newly-opened Sir Nigel Gresley Square.

The performance venue is the second major building around the new square, with work ongoing for new £20m civic offices which have been built on the old site of Doncaster College.

Mayor of Doncaster, Peter Davies, who was initially not a supporter of the CCQ project, said: “The new venue is really taking shape as the transformation of Waterdale continues.

“This imposing building will be the cultural heartbeat of the new quarter and complement our new square and the new civic offices.”

VINCI project manager Ben Shearman, said: “The completion of the steel frame is a significant milestone for the project. The project is progressing extremely well and we are confident it will be completed by spring of 2013.”

The CCQ project is part funded with European money and the Arts Council has provided £2.1m towards the cost of the performance venue, which will have a 600-seat main auditorium, and a 200-seat/400 standing “flexible performing space”.

According to council bosses it will also include dance and drama studios, education spaces, foyer, bar, box office, dressing rooms, and a café.