We are leading the consultant team to deliver a transformational Capital Works Programme for the Britten Pears Arts cultural charity, having won the open tender in 2024. Based in Suffolk at the Snape Maltings site, with further sites in Aldeburgh, the programme aims to deliver improved accessibility to their extensive collection of buildings, ensure financial resilience and sustainability as well as help move towards a net zero carbon operation.

Highlights of the capital programme include:

The modernisation of the Britten Pears Building, first converted by ARUP in 1979, to enable increased levels of community use and the expansion of the community and creative health programmes and create the O’Hare Music Centre.

A series of upgrades to Snape Maltings Concert Hall, the first significant works since 1999. These will improve access, audience comfort and programming flexibility. The roof will have insulation upgrades and repairs to the timber structure, the theatrical and house lighting will be upgraded, adjustable acoustic banners will be added to enable a wider programme of events, the ventilation system is being replaced with ability to add cooling, and front of house visitor facilities are being modernised. Finally, the timber and cane seating units are being repaired and refurbished including new upholstery.

Britten Pears Arts will significantly lower carbon emissions by improving building fabric performance, rooftop photovoltaic panels, and by connecting the music buildings to a renewable heating system and expanding the capacity of their energy centre.

The Snape Maltings flood defences will be raised to protect the site against a 1:200 year event. Connected to these works, there will be wider site landscape improvements to outdoor public spaces to connect accessible parking areas to venues via new access routes.

The Concert Hall in use shortly after opening in 1967

The original Get-In was next to the flood wall and reed beds

Building the Concert Hall roof

Lady Penn and Benjamin Britten in 1970