Watford Borough Council has appointed an award-winning architectural and urban design practice to help rejuvenate two of Watford’s most important heritage buildings as part of its ambitious Town Hall Quarter transformation programme.
Published: 23 March 2021
Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (FCBStudios) has an international reputation for design quality, for pioneering environmental expertise and progressive architectural approach.
The council selected the company from a long list of possible contenders to act as Lead Designer and Principal Designer for the Town Hall and Colosseum, two of Watford’s finest historic and cultural assets whose protection and enhancement is at the heart of the Town Hall Quarter scheme.
FCBStudios will work alongside Mace Project Management, IoN Consulting and SFK Consulting to support the council in assessing the buildings and developing creative designs, which will be sympathetic to their history but will refurbish them over the next two years, broadening their contribution to Watford’s economy, business life and cultural offer.
In over 40 years of practice, FCBStudios has developed a depth of experience in civic and cultural buildings, innovative workplaces, and performance and entertainment buildings of national status. Their impressive track record includes working on Brighton’s Royal Pavilion Estate and Dome, Theatre Royal Bath, London’s Southbank Centre, and The Postal Museum and Mail Rail.
Previous FCBStudios projects have earned more than 50 RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architecture) Awards, including the prestigious RIBA Stirling Prize, plus 25 Civic Trust Awards and many other regional, national and international honours.
They will now be bringing this experience and skill set to re-purposing Watford Town Hall as a modern office building, and adapting and enhancing the popular Watford Colosseum entertainment and live performance venue to make it more sustainable, financially and environmentally, and in terms of future use for residents and cultural organisations.
Peter Taylor, Elected Mayor of Watford, said: “We are delighted to be bringing on board architects who have an outstanding reputation for world-class design to work with us on protecting and improving two of Watford’s landmark historic buildings.
“What really made them stand out is their experience in conservation, heritage and entertainment venue projects, which tick all the boxes when it comes to the Colosseum and the Town Hall. I was impressed by their understanding of Watford and just how important these buildings are to our heritage and our future.”
Colin Cobb, Associate, FCBStudios, said: “Watford Town Hall and Colosseum are perfectly poised to be at the centre of the town’s developing cultural quarter. We look forward to working with Watford Borough Council to explore the role of a contemporary Town Hall as a meeting place, a civic, commercial, artistic and social hub for the community.”