A cityscape featuring a tall church spire, modern and older buildings, cars parked along the street, and a few pedestrians walking. The sky is partly cloudy with the sunlight creating a bright, warm atmosphere.
Interior of a modern building with a high, geometrically patterned ceiling, glass windows, and a staircase leading down. There are people sitting at tables, some walking, and a bar area visible in the background.
View of a narrow urban street at dusk with a modern glass building reflecting the evening sky and lights, a brick building on the right, a 'no entry' traffic sign, and power lines overhead.
Empty theater auditorium with red seats, a grand piano on the stage, and ceiling lights creating reflections on the ceiling grid.
A collage of four images showing stage models or architectural structures resembling the form of a tall, triangular monument or building, with colorful and geometric designs.
Modern building with a sign that reads 'SQ' and a stylized building icon, located next to an older brick building, under a clear sky.
Interior view of a modern building with a staircase made of concrete and metal handrails, next to a large brick wall with arched windows, and a glass wall revealing leafless trees outside.
A modern building with a dark facade and large glass window, with a church steeple visible in the background under a clear blue sky. There are construction barriers and a person walking in the foreground.
Modern building with large glass window, stone wall exterior, illuminated steps, and a person walking down the stairs.
Night view of a modern building with stairs leading up to the entrance, a church steeple visible in the background, and street lights illuminating the area.
The image shows concrete stairs with a metal handrail against a wall with two square lights.
Interior view of a brick building showcasing tall arched windows, a black metal railing, and a modern ceiling with geometric patterns, with natural light coming through the windows.
Empty theater or auditorium with rows of red seats, a wooden floor, a black ceiling with stage lights, and a few children sitting on the wooden floor near laptops.
An empty theater or auditorium with a wooden floor, dark walls, a balcony with red seats, and a ceiling with lighting fixtures. There are a few blurred figures moving inside, some sitting on the floor near laptops.
Empty theater with purple seats, wooden floors, black walls, a stage area, and black curtains on the sides, under a ceiling with bright lights and a grid structure.

Square Chapel Arts Centre: Transforming a Cultural & Performance Venue in Halifax

The Brief & Site Context Positioned in the heart of Halifax, the Square Chapel Arts Centre required a major capital extension to expand its capacity as a premier regional performance and community venue. The client brief called for a dedicated multi-purpose cinema space, extended foyer areas, improved visitor access, and enhanced catering facilities. The primary challenge was integrating a contemporary cultural extension adjacent to the original 18th-century red-brick chapel, unifying civic access between Halifax railway station and the nearby Piece Hall cultural quarter.

Navigating Local Planning & Heritage Constraints Designing within the immediate setting of Grade I and Grade II* listed buildings required navigating stringent approval processes overseen by Calderdale Council Planning Authority and Historic England. Balancing modern performance space requirements with strict heritage preservation required a highly sensitive massing strategy. Rather than imitating the historic brickwork, the scheme gained planning approval by proposing a distinct, high-quality contemporary contrast—a strategy that highlighted the historic fabric while establishing a clear, legibly modern public entrance.

Design Solution & Material Selection The resulting extension offers a striking combination of industrial tactile quality and civic transparency, directly responding to Halifax's textile and engineering heritage:

  • Burnished Copper-Clad Cassette Facade: A warm, golden copper-alloy cassette panel system envelopes the upper auditorium volume, creating a dynamic surface that patinates subtly over time and responds to shifting daylight.

  • Frameless Glazed Curtain Walling: Highly transparent, full-height glazing forms the lower foyer, inviting pedestrian views into the building and seamlessly connecting interior gathering spaces with the surrounding public realm.

  • Polished Concrete Flooring: Hard-wearing polished concrete surfaces define the high-traffic foyer zones, delivering an honest, industrial interior aesthetic that manages heavy event footfall effortlessly.

  • Natural Stone & Soft Landscaping: Step access and outdoor gathering spaces utilize regional natural stone paving integrated with soft landscaping, creating a smooth public transition between the historic streetscape and the new venue entrance.

Photography Credit: Mark Hadden