St David's Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St David's Hall |
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Neuadd Dewi Sant (Welsh)
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St David's Hall by night, in 2014, showing the remodelled façade and the base of Cardiff's BBC Big Screen.
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| General information | |
| Status | Closed due to the discovery of RAAC |
| Type | Concert Hall |
| Architectural style | Brutalist |
| Location | The Hayes |
| Address | The Hayes, Cardiff, CF10 1AH |
| Country | Wales, United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 51°28′49″N 03°10′36″W / 51.48028°N 3.17667°W |
| Construction started | 1977 |
| Completed | 1982 |
| Inaugurated | 30 August 1982 |
| Cost | £12m |
| Owner | Cardiff County Council |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 7 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architecture firm | Seymour Harris Partnership |
| Structural engineer | Ove Arup and Partners |
| Main contractor | John Laing & Son |
| Other information | |
| Seating capacity | 1,500 |
| Number of rooms | 24 |
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Listed Building – Grade II
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| Official name | St David's Hall |
| Designated | Interim Protection |
| Reference no. | 87914 |
St David's Hall (Welsh: Neuadd Dewi Sant) is a famous performing arts and conference centre in the heart of Cardiff, Wales. It is known as the National Concert Hall and Conference Centre of Wales.
This special building hosts many different types of shows. You can enjoy classical music, jazz, pop, rock, and even performances for children. It's also home to big events like the annual Welsh Proms and the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition, which happens every two years. The open areas inside the hall often have free music performances, and you can also see art exhibitions there.
Contents
History of St David's Hall
How St David's Hall Was Planned and Built
A person named Ron Watkiss, who was a leader in the Cardiff City Council, helped make St David's Hall a reality. There's even a bronze statue of him in the building's main area.
The architects, Seymour Harris Partnership, had a tricky job. They needed to fit a large concert hall with 2000 seats, along with dressing rooms, bars, a restaurant, and offices, into a very small space in the city centre. They had to build it on top of and inside a shopping centre that was already being planned and partly built. Because of this, the building has a very unique shape.
The main company that built the hall was John Laing & Son. The very first concert took place on 11 September 1982. The hall was officially opened a few months later, on 15 February 1983, by the Queen Mother. A concert by the BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra followed the opening.
The building's outside and some inside areas are made of angular grey concrete. This style is known as "Brutalism," which was popular in the 1970s and 1980s.
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
The BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales (BBC NOW) is like the main music group at St David's Hall. They perform there regularly from September to June each year. Most of their concerts at St David's Hall are recorded. These recordings are often broadcast live or later on BBC Radio 3. The concert hall has special equipment just for these broadcasts.
St David's Hall in the 21st Century
St David's Hall hosts many important events. These include the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition, which happens every two years, and the Welsh Proms, held every year. Awards for the Welsh Artist of the Year are also given out at the hall each June. After the awards, there's an exhibition of the winning artworks.
The hall is always adding new types of shows. It has a smaller venue called the L3 Lounge, which can hold about 350 people. This space is used for daytime concerts, folk music series, and a special series called Blas* – A Taste of the Fresh Welsh Sound, which features new Welsh music.
St David's Hall now has "Interim Protection" as a Grade II listed building. This means it's a very important building that needs to be protected. It's against the law to damage or change the hall without special permission.
Temporary Closure in 2023
In September 2023, St David's Hall had to close because a special type of concrete called Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) was found in its roof. This type of concrete can become weak over time.
The closure was first expected to last about 18 months so the roof could be replaced. However, there have been some delays. The hall is now expected to reopen in 2026. This is because special permission is needed to make changes to a listed building. Replacing the roof and making other improvements to the hall is estimated to cost about £50 million. This cost will be covered by Academy Music Group (AMG) as part of a long-term agreement to manage the venue.
The Concert Organ
The large concert organ at St David's Hall was finished in 1982. It was built by Peter Collins and was the biggest organ he ever made. The wooden case around the organ was designed by Ralph Downes.
There were some problems with the organ's parts at first. Another company, J. W. Walker & Sons, had to replace some of the internal workings. The organ has three keyboards (called manuals) and uses a German style of sound settings.
The main hall at St David's Hall often hosts organ events, including lunchtime concerts. Many famous organ players have performed there, such as Catherine Ennis, Olivier Latry, and Margaret Phillips. St David's Hall also hosted a big organ festival called OrganFest in 2019.
See also
In Spanish: St. David's Hall para niños
