Donald Runnicles Interview

http://news.scotsman.com:80/entertainment/Donald-Runnicles-interview-The-return.5236651.jp

As the building project heads towards a long awaited conclusion I will start blogging about music too. It's a nice warm feeling I get as I look forward to programming the hall again after such a protracted closure period. Being able to talk more about music than mortar is a good thing!

Anyway, Donald Runnicles & the BBC SSO...how exciting. Kenneth Walton can write about it better than I so read the link and call us to pick a ticket or two (0131 228 1155 or www.usherhall.co.uk)

It's glass Jim, but not as we know it

The construction of the 'new glass wing' caused something of a stir judging by the increase in photographers around the site compound and the subsequent Flickr images floating around. It was also a bit of a shock for us - I had only understood the construction plans on a superficial level so it meant that we had to temporarily downplay our liberal use of the phrase 'new glass wing' as it is, in fact, made of concrete!

The glass and metal 'skin' will be going up shortly - you can see from the image that the fixings are on. It is exciting watching it go up as you can see the big architectural statement that it will make about the Usher Hall and the arts quarter. One of the issues that we wanted addressed at the start of the project was that the Usher Hall had a very 'closed' look about it during the day and we wanted to create a more open feel.

I am due to receive some images from the contractor which will show some more detail, including the internal works such as the circular stairwell.

In the meantime we keep repeating our mantra, "it will be fabulous when it's finished". In the meantime, our concert schedule is beginning to fill up and we are selling lots of tickets for the Autumn.

Edinburgh International Festival 2008

One of the most challenging tasks we have faced on this project (and believe me, we have faced a few) was delivering the hall in a fit state for the Edinburgh International Festival. The photos were taken in May, about 10 weeks before the Festival was due to occupy the hall. I didn't want to show these prior to the Festival as they may have put some people off attending! Apart from the desire to have a sparklingly clean auditorium and good facilities for audiences, you have to get a Public Entertainment Licence, and to get that you have to pass stringent safety inspections. As a venue manager you get a bit concerned about things like missing stairwells, no electricity or running water, incomplete air conditioning systems, blocked doors, dust, and all sorts of other hazards. Anyway, I'll cut a very long story short and say that with well co-ordinated team approach we did it.

As ever with building projects it ran to the wire and contractors were still scampering around the hall with a couple of hours to go on the opening night. And to round it off, 2 fire officers turned up at 7pm on the dot (the time that the concert was due to start) for a spot check safety inspection. I think they got the message from the rather stessed look on my face and agreed to come back 15 minutes later once the concert was underway.

Contractors to work non-stop until May 2009

Today we announced that contractors will work without interruption to complete the Usher Hall project once this year’s Edinburgh International Festival is over. Here's the link to the national news piece:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7444321.stm

The Usher Hall project team made the decision to press ahead in collaboration with the RSNO and the SCO. we all thought it best that the contractor gets on and completes the job. Both organisations have been able to make alternative arrangements for their forthcoming seasons in order to allow the Usher Hall project to move ahead as fast as possible to completion. More details are available from their websites:

http://www.rsno.org.uk/cms/
http://www.sco.org.uk/

Over the past six months contractors have focused attention on the new wing, the basement and the podium. This has required considerable intrusion into the building’s structure which revealed unexpected deficiencies in the fabric of the building. As a result, there have been a number of time consuming changes to plans and additional investigatory work which has compounded delays.

You can see in the photo's above that the wing is now starting to take shape with the yellow shutters providing the support for the pouring of concrete. You can also see the amount of steel work that has had to be fitted to the the walls where the new staircase will be situated. This has been one of the challenges for us, as without the steel 'brace' the walls were proving too weak to support the new staircase structure. Another delay has been brought about by having to extend the basement corridor away from it's intended path - the foundations of the hall made this a near impossible task. This redesign will take until December to be constructed.

The focus now is on preparing the venue for this year’s Edinburgh International Festival.

Thank you for your patience while we complete the improvement of the hall.