The Fire Surgery was appointed as fire engineers for this major project at Alexandra Palace funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Haringey Council. The project involves the significant refurbishment and repair of this Grade II listed public building while allowing its operations in the west side to continue successfully. The HLF project is focussed on the East Wing which, despite being partially derelict, contains the very popular Ice Rink. Surrounding the rink in a U-shape are the former BBC Studios, the Victorian Theatre, and the glazed East Court. The East Court was once a grand exhibition space, part of a wider experience of promenade and spectacle so beloved of the Victorian public. The 19th century theatre, dark for over eighty years, bears a highly atmospheric patina of age. It is a true ‘found space’, a snapshot of a grander time, now in ‘stabilised decay’. Finally, the BBC Studios gave birth in 1936 to a technology that was to change the world – high definition television. The completed project was recipient of multiple design awards including 2019 RIBA National Award and 2019 RIBA London Conservation Award.

The fire strategy not only requires the integration of the refurbished elements of the projects but also the existing operating spaces such as the Ice Rink, BBC office tower and Great Hall. The main considerations for the fire strategy being compartmentation and evacuation for both existing and refurbished spaces.

Client: Alexandra Park & Palace Charitable Trust

Architect: Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios

Project Date/s: 2014-19

Project Value: £28M