Alexandra Arts Centre update on construction work, summer 2026
Despite the heat, progress has been anything but slow, with work advancing simultaneously on the exterior, the main auditorium, backstage areas, studios, and building services, marking a significant step forward as the project moves into its autumn phase.
What's been achieved this summer
The past two months have seen the breadth of activity on site widen considerably, with teams working across multiple floors and areas of the building in parallel. The headline achievements of the period are set out below.
External work:
- brickwork and masonry - below ground brickwork has been completed, with the external fabric of the building continuing to take shape
- external decoration - painting and decoration of the building's exterior has progressed, with the finished appearance of the arts centre becoming increasingly clear to those passing the site
- windows and curtain walling - installation has continued across the building, with further sections of the glazed façade now complete
- feature banding and sills - templates have been produced and the manufacture of the decorative banding and windowsills is underway, adding important finishing detail to the external elevations
- roofing - the final items of standing seam roofing have been completed, bringing the roofing programme across the building to a close
Building services and specialist work:
- automatic opening vent systems (AOV) installation -, which play an important role in the building's fire safety and ventilation strategy, have been installed
- main plant room and electrical intake - works have continued throughout the period on these critical building services areas, which will power and control the building's core systems
- acoustic enclosure - the external acoustic enclosure has been manufactured and is ready for installation, an important element in managing sound from the building's mechanical plant
Auditorium and performance spaces:
- auditorium decoration - decoration works to the main auditorium and stage have been carried out, with the character of this centrepiece space beginning to emerge
- studio decoration - decoration has been completed across studios two, three, and four, with these versatile performance and rehearsal spaces taking their finished form
- first-floor communal spaces - decoration to the first-floor communal areas has been completed
Internal fabric and fit-out:
- dry lining - works to walls across the building have continued throughout the period, with the internal layout of the arts centre becoming increasingly defined
- flooring screed (a smooth levelling compound applied before final floor finishes) - screed works to studio five have been completed, with screed to the remaining internal cupboard spaces to follow
- flooring - flooring has been laid to the backstage areas, with the internal finish of these spaces progressing well
Looking ahead - September and October 2026
The coming two months will see the pace of activity maintain as the project moves further into its fit-out phase, with several significant new workstreams beginning soon:
- theatre specialist fit-out - specialist contractors will start cabling and wiring across all areas of the building, a major milestone marking the beginning of the technical fit-out of what will be a fully equipped professional performance venue
- joinery - will begin with detailed craftsmanship that will define much of the arts centre's interior character
- internal doors - are due for delivery and installation
- ceilings - dry lining works will extend to ceiling areas, alongside the installation of lay-in grid ceilings across relevant parts of the building
Completion of all workstreams from the summer period will be completed as the programme advances. The project team will review and plan the final fit items, setting the course for the finishing phase of the construction programme
With the auditorium taking shape, the specialist fit out is about to begin, and the exterior of the building increasingly reflecting its finished appearance, the Alexandra Arts Centre is entering one of the most exciting and visible periods of its construction journey.
The team looks forward to sharing further updates as the project continues to progress toward its Spring 2027 opening.