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The Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall restoration project in Singapore has recently been completed. Located in

the country’s civic district spanning over 14,000 sq m, the entire complex was gazetted a National Monument in 1992.

It was designed by Municipal engineer John Bennett during the era of Victorian Revivalism. The influence of the period can be seen reflected in its design, which includes features like Italianate windows and rusticated columns. The foundation of the complex was first laid down in 1862, and officially inaugurated by the governor of the Straits Settlements, John Anderson, on 18 October 1905.

Since its inception, Victoria Theatre has been the chosen venue for some of Singapore’s most prestigious cultural events like the Singapore Arts Festival, Singapore Sun Festival and weekly performances by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.

The historic complex comprises two buildings and a clock tower joined

The Everlasting Vintage

Above, all images: The Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall is a historic complex that includes two buildings and a clock tower joined together.

together. Both buildings were closed for major refurbishment in 2010. T.Y. Lin International Pte Ltd was commissioned to carry out the civil and structural (C&S) as well as mechanical and electrical (M&E) design services of the project for the National Arts Council (NAC).

Restoration worksT.Y. Lin, working in conjunction with NAC, developed a preservation scheme to overcome technical challenges associated with protecting the aesthetic features of the heritage structure and upgrading it to modern day standards.

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The Everlasting Vintage Restoration of the complex included the excavation and construction of two basement levels within the conserved theatre facade walls that were founded on shallow brick pedestals. One of the key structural challenges in delivering the restoration works was to underpin part of the theatre facade wall to enable the basement structure to extend under the Old Parliament Lane and the Atrium area. The old foundations of the conserved structures were strengthened in order to transform both spaces into modern facilities to cater for world class performances.

To provide a column-free foyer space, four pairs of existing columns within the Concert Hall that were added during the previous renovation were removed and two pairs of steel columns concealed in the conserved load bearing walls were introduced. The additional loads of the new spiral staircase and platform located just above the foyer and the circle seats structure are suspended from steel trusses by the hangers.

The team was creative, flexible and innovative in developing the design with the objective of accommodating to the acoustic demands of different noise criterion for the

Above, all images: The complex under restoration.

theatre and concert hall. To bring the heritage structure in line with modern day standards demanded the introduction of modern fire protection, smoke extraction and air-conditioning systems under the preservation

scheme. Focusing heavily on standards and quality, the team successfully introduced modern technology and equipment into the heritage structure despite tight space constraints. n