The Brindley facts for kids
Exterior view of the entrance to The Brindley
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| Address | High Street, Runcorn WA7 1BG |
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| Coordinates | 53°20′26″N 2°43′53″W / 53.3406°N 2.7315°W |
| Owner | Halton Borough Council |
| Type | Theatre |
| Capacity | 420 theatre / 108 studio |
| Construction | |
| Opened | September 2004 |
| Architect | John Miller and Partners |
| Structural engineer | Dewhurst Macfarlane & Partners |
| Services engineer | SVM |
| Main contractors | G&J Sedden |
The Brindley is a cool theatre and arts centre located in Runcorn, Cheshire, England. It sits right next to the Bridgewater Canal. This awesome building is named after James Brindley, who was the engineer who designed the canal. The Brindley first opened its doors in the autumn of 2004. Halton Borough Council owns and runs the centre, making sure it's a great place for everyone to enjoy.
Contents
Building with Care: Design and Construction
When The Brindley was being built, the people in charge at Halton Borough Council really cared about the environment. They wanted the building to use less energy and be very efficient. Because of this, they used special "low energy, high efficiency techniques" during its construction.
One of these techniques was called a TermoDeck slab system. This is a clever way to control the temperature inside the building. It uses hollow spaces within the concrete floors to help with air circulation. This system helps keep the building warm in winter and cool in summer, saving a lot of energy. The architects for this project were John Miller and Partners.
What You Can Find Inside: Facilities
The Brindley has lots of different spaces for fun and learning.
- Main Auditorium: This is the biggest space, with seats for 420 people. It hosts many different shows, like plays that are touring the country. Every Christmas, there's a professional pantomime, which is a very popular show. Local groups also put on their own performances here.
- Studio: This smaller room has 108 seats. It can also turn into a cinema to show films.
- Exhibition and Gallery Space: Here, you can see different art shows and displays.
- Learning Rooms: The centre has an education room, a dark room for developing photos, and a digital imaging room. These are great for workshops and classes.
- Behind the Scenes: There are also dressing rooms for performers and a meeting room.
- Food and Drink: You can grab a snack or a drink at the bar or the café. The café has lovely views overlooking the Bridgewater Canal.
Awards and Recognition
The Brindley has won several awards for being such a well-designed and important building.
Architectural Awards
- In 2005, it received The Centre Vision Award from The Civic Trust.
- The ADAPT Trust gave it the Excellence in Access award. This award is for places that are easy for people with disabilities to use.
- The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) gave it an Architectural Award. RIBA praised how well the building fit into its surroundings. They also liked how it used the canal views and stayed within its budget.
- In 2008, it won the Open Award for Technical Excellence in Architectural Technology.
Community and Tourism Awards
The Brindley isn't just known for its design; it's also celebrated for its work with the community.
- In 2007, it won the title of Best Arts Project in the UK at The National Lottery Awards. This was for all the great activities it offered to local people.
- In May 2008, the theatre was named the Best Performance Venue Award at the Mersey Partnership Tourism Awards. This showed it was a top spot for visitors and locals alike.
