Contact Theatre

Contact is a leading national theatre and arts venue in Manchester that places young people at the decision-making heart of everything, offering a diverse and accessible artistic programme.

In 1999 we completed work with Alan Short architects on the pioneering sustainable refurbishment of the original 1960s building. Features such as the distinctive large natural ventilation H-pot ‘chimneys’ made it the first naturally ventilated theatre in the UK. In 2020, working alongside Sheppard Robson Architects, we completed a new extension and remodelling of the existing building, with the aim to transform the visitor experience, create new performance spaces, and vastly improve disabled access.

Our early assessment indicated that natural ventilation was still the most energy-efficient strategy, and we carried this through to the new extension. The new extension includes two new chimneys, designed to complement those originally designed by Alan Short, for natural ventilation of the new performance space and offices. The building users are highly engaged with their building, so there was a desire not to overly automate the offices. Natural ventilation in the open plan offices is manually controlled, but with a BMS advising on when to open windows and chimneys based on air quality and temperature.

Improvements in control allow the theatre to monitor air quality and control the air flow rates of the existing natural ventilation system. This innovative variable flow natural ventilation system will minimise the heat loss caused by over-ventilation in the winter, and provide night cooling of the thermal mass in summer to limit overheating and negate the need for any comfort cooling in the building.