The Dorfman Theatre has opened as part of the £80m redevelopment of the National Theatre in London.
Arup provided acoustic consultancy services throughout the design and construction of the project. The team also worked on the acoustics for the theatre, existing foyers, new editing rooms, education spaces and throughout the new workshop areas.
The renovations included opening up the existing theatre and adding a large amount of seating; however, the added space and audience would affect the acoustics of the space. As it was imperative the quality of the sound needed to remain the same as it did pre-modification, Arup’s designs focused on sound absorption to counteract the new addition of space and make the acoustics reflect their original characteristics.
This refurbishment programme was delivered while the building remained in operation and was open to the public, with up to three productions being showcased at the same time.