The Shaftesbury Theater specializes in spectacular musicals, and it takes a good technical base to host popular international productions. Therefore, the problem was not enough large space for grates, moreover - on a wooden frame. The new volume, 10 meters higher than the previous one, was commissioned by Bennetts Associates.
Since the Shaftesbury Theater is an architectural monument (the building in the neo-Renaissance style was built in 1911), and the entire area around it is a protected area, the architects strove for the greatest correctness of their intervention in the historical environment. For the cladding of the new "grate" - the fly tower, corten steel was chosen: its reddish color, which will later darken to burnt umber - an allusion to the terracotta details on the theater facades and the abundance of bricks in the surrounding buildings. The jagged, angular shape fits better into a varied environment than a monolithic volume, especially since it is easier to hide windows and vents in the "jaggedness". In addition, the superstructure hides glazed lanterns and ventilation hoods on the roof of the theater.
At the same time, the building is clearly modern and does not try to imitate the styles of past centuries. Its “dramatic” form emphasizes the solidity of the theater's historical facades.
In addition to the grate bars, which are now suitable for decorations weighing up to 35 tons, the architects have also taken up the space behind the stage. The new fly tower freed up space that was used for two levels of office space. Below will be the technical staff, who previously occupied the dressing rooms (and now they will accommodate a troupe of 90 artists), above - the administration of the theater, which previously rented premises nearby.
