Categories

RSAMD Publication Scheme

Physical Resources

1. Description of Estate

2. Estate Development Plans

3. External Funding

4. Buildings Under Construction

5. Tender Documentation

6. Maintenance

7. Estates Indicators

8. Environmental Policies

1. Description of Estate

The RSAMD occupies a purpose-built complex in the heart of theatre land in Glasgow close to the Theatre Royal and the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. The building is situated to the north of the city centre at the junction of Hope Street and Renfrew Street.

(Click here to view map)

The site (2.89 acres) was acquired from Glasgow District Council in 1981 and work commenced in August 1983 on a distinctive building designed by the eminent architect, Sir Leslie Martin. The foundation stone was laid by Dame Janet Baker, President of the Academy, on Thursday 27 September 1984. Work continued for a further three years and staff began to move in during the summer of 1987 in time for the start of session that year. The new building was formally opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, Patron of the RSAMD, on Wednesday 9 March 1988.

On the main Renfrew Street frontage, the building presents an appropriately dramatic face to the world. Beyond a broad pavement the sweeping flight of steps leading to the colonnade of pillars marks a building of classical elegance and simplicity. The distinctive buff facing brick and the aluminium framed curtain walling along the Hope Street elevation are features of its unique design and character. However, in the words of Sir Leslie Martin "the building was not intended to dominate: it takes its place in a setting" and so there is little clue to the person walking by of what actually lies within.

The building has three storeys with a basement in the front section and consists of a large rectangular block which contains all teaching areas and a much smaller block on the Hope Street frontage which houses the main administrative offices and accommodation such as dining and common rooms. The two blocks are separated by an area of common access containing the main entrance, circulation areas, stairways and lift and together comprise some 15,000 sq.m of floor space.

Within the larger block, the auditoria and large teaching rooms form the spine of accommodation which runs along the centre of the building. All these rooms are spacious and have acoustics suited to their individual use. The size of the site permitted a 'spreading' form of design which enables all main rooms to be accommodated at ground, first and second floor levels. The Schools of Music and Drama are housed as self-contained entities and, at the same time, closely relate to the main auditoria and indeed share some facilities. Public access to the auditoria is conveniently arranged whilst remaining separate from the working areas of the Academy.

Many of the principal areas in the building were named to commemorate past associations and individuals who have given outstanding service to the Academy, together with our benefactors. The most important spaces are set out below:

The New Athenaeum Theatre

The word Athenaeum has been associated with the Academy from its earliest days (Click here to read a Brief History of the RSAMD) and it was therefore, appropriate that the main theatre in the building be so named in order to carry on the tradition.

The design of the theatre has much in common with the smaller Italian opera houses of the 18 th century and can accommodate 344 patrons on three levels. The performance area is large and the pit can take a 50 piece orchestra.

The Chandler Studio Theatre

Named after the Academy's first Director of the School of Drama, Dr Colin Chandler OBE (from 1950 - 1973), this is the Academy's "laboratory" theatre. The auditorium can seat up to 128 patrons in a variety of configurations including theatre in the round.

The Academy Concert Hall

Formerly known as the Stevenson Hall after Sir Daniel Stevenson (1853 - 1944), an early and most generous benefactor, the Academy's principal space for the performance of music has parallel sides and a raked floor which can accommodate an audience of 355.

The Guinness Room

Funded by a generous benefaction from Guinness Plc, this is the Academy's main recital room and can accommodate an audience of 108 in a retractable rake arrangement.

The Groves Studio

So named after Mr John Groves (1909 - 1977) who was Technical Director and later Deputy Director in the School of Drama until his retirement in 1974. This is a large, flexible studio which is used by both Schools, including opera, for practice and rehearsals.

The Fyfe Lecture Theatre

Our lecture theatre is named in memory of Mr Alexander Peden Fyfe who was Chairman of the Board of Governors from 1928 - 1936. It can accommodate 80 students in a raked seating arrangement.

The Whittaker Library

Named after Dr William Gillies Whittaker (1876 - 1944) who was the first Principal of the Scottish National Academy of Music, our Library holds a comprehensive collection of material on music and drama and is one of the most important libraries on the performing arts in the country.

For further information on the Library and the resources available please click on http://www.rsamd.ac.uk/academy/is/

In addition, the Academy has a wide variety of rooms and spaces which combine to meet the requirements of this diverse institution. They include:

movement and rehearsal rooms

practice and ensemble rooms

teaching rooms and classrooms

workshops

paintframe

wet and dry prop rooms

a scenery dock

a wardrobe

props stores

dressing rooms

a recording studio

an electro-acoustic music studio

IT suites

Cafe/bar.

In 1998 the Academy's excellent facilities were greatly enhanced by the opening of the Alexander Gibson Opera School on a site to the north and adjoining the original main building.

The purpose of the Opera School was to provide dedicated spaces for operatic training which until then had taken place elsewhere in Glasgow. In addition, the space originally designated for opera rehearsals (the Guinness Room) was soon needed for a variety of other activities which the School of Drama had developed plans to introduce a range of postgraduate courses which themselves required additional rehearsal space.

The extension which was designed by Glasgow architects Boswell Mitchell and Johnston is a striking building in its own right. The expression of the main public façade of the Opera School which fronts onto Cowcaddens Road to the north, is that of an impenetrable edifice, constructed of polished granite the proportions of which allude to the scale and nature of the studio space behind. At the core of the building is a purpose-built Opera Studio which seats 150 persons in a retractable rake.

The most interesting feature of the studio is that it is constructed as an entirely separate structure from that of other parts of the building. It could be described as a building within a building since the "Opera Studio Box" is fully enclosed on all sides. It is supported on its own acoustic bearings to ensure compete sound insulation from adjacent areas within the building and, more importantly, to isolate it from the city traffic, including underground trains which pass below the building.

To the south the building is dominated by an atrium space which was introduced to act as a buffer zone and breakout area between the Opera School and the existing Academy building. The introduction of the atrium allows daylight to pervade into all areas of the Opera School, including into the Opera Studio at the heart of the building.

In addition to the principal studio space, there is a range of teaching and rehearsal rooms of various sizes, a conference suite with state of the art audio-visual facilities, administrative offices and spacious foyer areas totalling approximately 3,000 sq.m.

Taken as a whole the facilities and the resources of the building rank with the best among international conservatoires. The RSAMD is central to the cultural life of the nation and it is housed in a worthy home. However, the Academy is not complacent and we are not going to stand still. Further development is proposed and details will be published in the Publication Scheme when funding allows and plans are made.

2. Estate Development Plans

There is a proposed plan to construct an extension to the building.

Full details will be published under this category when arrangements have been finally agreed.

3. External Funding

There are at present  plans to source major external capital funding for  projects at the RSAMD.

4. Buildings Under Construction

There are no buildings currently under construction at the RSAMD.

5. Tender Documentation

No documentation is currently held at the RSAMD under this category.

6. Maintenance

The Academy's Estates' Strategy is part of our annual Strategic Planning documentation. It includes information on the size, condition and fitness for purpose of the estate. The Academy has a Maintenance Management Plan which is in the same document.

The Buildings Committee provides strategic direction to the maintenance process at the RSAMD. The remit and membership of the Committee can be found in the Quality Assurance handbook. Section 12

Day to day maintenance at the RSAMD is monitored by the Maintenance and Energy Management Group which meets monthly and is chaired by the Head of Academy Operations.

Members of the Group are:

The Technical Facilities Manager

The representative of the Estate Manager and representatives from the Academy's Energy Management Company.

At each meeting the Group considers the following matters:

Maintenance in progress
Maintenance carried out
Planned maintenance
Minor improvements
A report from the Technical Facilities Manager on internal routine maintenance and minor works.
The monthly Mechanical Services Report and Energy Survey Report from the Energy Management Company.
Any maintenance-related health and safety matters and, finally, any specific matters requiring to be discussed.

Minutes of all meetings of the Group together with associated papers are passed to the Director of Finance and Administration. A report is given regularly to the Buildings Committee.

Day to day maintenance and repairs are the responsibility of the Technical Facilities Manager who is assisted by a full-time maintenance assistant.

Requests for repairs may either be reported to the Client Services' staff at the Front Desk who will log them in the Faults Book and pass details to the Technical Facilities Manager. Alternatively, they can be passed directly to the Technical Facilities Manager by telephone or e-mail.

The Technical Facilities Manager will prioritise each request on the following grounds:
1. is it a necessary emergency repair?
2. is there a health and safety factor involved?
3. cost.

The job will then be listed for action either, internally, by the maintenance assistant or, externally by a contractor.

The Technical Facilities Manager is permitted to authorise any work up to a maximum of £500.00. Any work over that amount must be authorised by the Director of Finance whose limit extends to £1000.00

7. Estates Indicators

The RSAMD does not operate a system of estates indicators.

8. Environmental Policies

The RSAMD does not have a specific environmental policy.

However, our practices in energy usage and waste disposal take full account of their impact on the environment and measures are put in place to reduce any adverse effect so far as is practicable.

RSAMD consumption of gas, electricity and water is monitored monthly by our Energy Management Company and reported to the Maintenance and Energy Management Group. Any trends or patterns are readily identified and measures can be put in place to reduce or otherwise alleviate any development giving rise to concern.

Timber and related products from the Scenic Workshop are re-cycled when no longer required.

Glasgow District Council is responsible for the uplift and removal of domestic waste.

Paint waste, dry-cleaning fluids, glues and other solvents from the Technical Department are removed by arrangement with a specialised contractor.

The RSAMD does not own any transport and so there is no transport policy for the institution.

The RSAMD does not have any information which is required to be published under environmental legislation.

For further information contact the Head of Estates:

Mr. Gary Brunton
Head of Estates

RSAMD
100 Renfrew Street
Glasgow
G2 3DB

Telephone: +44 (0)141 270 8208

E-mail: g.brunton@rsamd.ac.uk