The project includes the supply of four concertina banners and 38 acoustic roller blinds, plus ten chain driven tapestry tracks to which the Hall's famous Hilary Bourne designed tapestries have been re-attached following restoration. The movement of all these elements is integrated into the Stage Technologies automation control system.
Acoustic consultants Kirkegaard Associates were responsible for transforming the room acoustics into a perfect environment for staging world class events of all types and productions of all sizes, and they specified all the various treatments. Getting the acoustics right was a major part of the whole refurbishment scheme, and the overall project was led by architects Allies and Morrison.
J&C Joel's team was headed by Mark Taylor. The installation process took place over a 12 month period, with the J&C Joel team varying in numbers from 10 to four people, dependant on which stage of the install process was happening.
The four black acoustic wool serge concertina banners, located in front of the organ doors, are the Triple E Concertina banner system. Each measures 5 metres wide by 10 metres drop and moves up and down in front of the organ doors.
The 38 roller banners are mainly positioned over the stage area. These have been manufactured from bespoke black bonded serge, involving two layers of the material being bonded together in a special J&C Joel process. The banners are arranged in three banks - of 10, 14 and four - fastened to the underside of the 'production attic'. The other 10 are deployable on the rear wall of the 2,800-seat auditorium, on levels five and six. A total of 10 tapestry tracks are installed on levels five and six, all utilising special Triple E chain-driven track.
In addition to the main work in the Royal Festival Hall itself, J&C Joel supplied a number of blinds, tracks and drapes to other areas in the complex.
In the Terraces, a seven-suite function area, 25 Silent Gliss electric roller blinds were fitted. Within the same area, a number of custom chestnut dyed wool serge drapes were installed on Triple E 3 way tracks recessed into the ceiling space. The rehearsal rooms also feature various tracks and drapes.
(Jim Evans)
