Royal Festival Hall

The Festival Hall, built for the 1951 Festival of Britain, officially opened on May 3, 1951. Initially managed by the London County Council (LCC), it became part of the Arts Council's portfolio after the Greater London Council was abolished in 1986. By 1998, it was incorporated into the Southbank Centre and Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Room, and Hayward Gallery.

Designed by Robert Matthew and a team of Leslie Martin, Edwin Williams, and Peter Moro, the Festival Hall was a landmark of modernism. They aimed for a grand yet unpretentious building, avoiding the classicism of previous public structures. The open foyers and lack of class-based segregation in bars and restaurants were central to the design, creating a welcoming atmosphere. The building featured modern materials like reinforced concrete alongside luxurious finishes such as Derbyshire fossilized limestone and beautiful woods. Its bright white exterior and large glass panels made it stand out against the city's backdrop, especially at night.

Initially, the hall seated 2,901, with cantilevered boxes that some likened to "drawers in a burglary" but with no obstructed views. The ceiling was a sculptural feat, pushing the boundaries of building technology and acoustics. Robin Day’s furniture, crafted from bent plywood and steel, complemented the hall’s modernist aesthetic.

The original design included lush roof terraces and direct entrances leading to the auditorium. However, the building underwent significant changes in 1964, with extensions adding foyers and terraces and altering the façades. These changes affected the original entrance sequence and introduced raised concrete walkways.

The hall was renovated between 2005 and 2007 to address poor acoustics and update the layout. Led by architect Diane Haigh of Allies and Morrison, with consulting engineers Max Fordham LLP and Price & Myers, the renovation faced opposition from conservationists. The stage canopy and walls were simplified into rectangular forms, and seating was reduced slightly to 2,788.

New adjustable acoustic canopies were installed above the stage to improve frequency balance. The stage was reconfigured for more performer space, and the walls around it were significantly altered. The original Robin Day seats were restored and reupholstered for comfort and acoustics.

The renovation also included infrastructure upgrades for operational flexibility. Theatre consultants Carr & Angier and ISG Interior Exterior and Stage Technologies created a new working space over the stage with movable lighting bridges for large productions. Delstar Engineering installed eleven lifts to allow various stage configurations, and the space between seat rows was increased by 75mm, reducing seating by only 118. Cooling was improved by reversing airflow in the auditorium.

In the 2000s, a building with seven commercial units and Southbank administrative offices was added opposite the hall, with new shops and restaurants along the river.

The refurbished Festival Hall reopened in June 2007 at a cost of about £91 million. The renovation was documented in the film *This Is Tomorrow*, directed by Paul Kelly and produced by Andrew Hinton.