Audiences at London’s Young Vic theatre are able to keep their cool during crowded intervals thanks to a natural ventilation system supplied and serviced by WindowMaster (www.windowmaster.com). WindowMaster provides service and maintenance for the theatre’s natural ventilation systems to ensure that it runs smoothly throughout the season, helping performers, audience and front of house staff stay cool and breathe easy.
The Young Vic theatre was rebuilt in 2006 after the original 1970s structure – which was originally intended to last just five years – became too run down to remain in use. As well as the Main House auditorium, the building incorporates two smaller theatre spaces, a back stage area which includes office space and a production workshop.
The performance spaces are mechanically cooled but the café and foyer, office space, green room and wardrobe areas are naturally ventilated.
The natural ventilation system, which features windows in the façade installed by WindowMaster’s sister company Velfac, is a combination of windows controlled by the computerised building management system and windows operated using a local switch and control interface in the hospitality areas.
Ian Symmonds, service manager for WindowMaster, said: “We installed the ventilation system in the Young Vic when it re-opened in 2006. The theatre has recently signed a service agreement which provides it with an annual service inspection.
“The service agreement includes a test of each system element, along with general maintenance of the mechanical elements and recommendations for any improvements. Additionally, we provide a telephone support line to assist the facilities team should a problem occur at other times.”
Damian Ball, theatre facilities manager at the Young Vic, said: “We have had a service contract in place with WindowMaster for the past six months and we have been very happy with it.
“WindowMaster installed the actuators and a control system for two sets of windows in the main foyer and bar area at double height when the theatre was rebuilt in 2006. The actuators and control system are linked to our building management system to enable us to control CO2 levels and temperatures more easily.
“The service contract helps us to ensure that the natural ventilation system is working at its best. On the last service visit WindowMaster also pointed out some issues with linking the control system and BMS to our fire protection system. They have been very helpful in suggesting some solutions to rectify those issues.”
The WindowMaster service team provides a transitional path from installation contract to the building end user, which avoids the ‘finish and run’ situation which can occur with construction projects. The service team also provides training of the end user facilities staff and building users to ensure they are aware of the benefits of a natural ventilation system. The training provides the facilities team with an insight into managing the internal building environment along with the ability to tune the system on a day to day basis.
Ian Symmonds said: “Our philosophy is customer service through education and support. We help our customers to get the best from their systems at every opportunity. Our support teams work together to ensure our customers have our full technical assistance on the phone, while our field service team provides the very best all round technical and maintenance service direct to the customers’ premises.”
The service team also maintains systems supplied by other manufacturers to provide its customers with a one stop shop for natural ventilation, smoke ventilation and manual systems backed up by extensive technical resources.
