Provision of temporary access utilising the K2 modular scaffold system, which lends itself to large-scale multi-storey refurbishment projects.

The King’s Theatre, Glasgow, opened in 1904, is one of Scotland’s most historic venues and occupies the corner of Bath Street and Elmbank Street in the Charing Cross area. Originally designed by British architect Frank Matcham, a renowned specialist in theatres and music halls, the building, costing over £50,000 (equivalent to around £7 million today), was commissioned by Howard & Wyndham. The 1785-seat auditorium uses Baroque and Art Nouveau influences and is constructed in red Dumfriesshire sandstone.

It’s considered the sister venue to Glasgow’s Theatre Royal and over the years has hosted many high-profile stars and shows, including touring musicals, comedy, dance, and circus-style performances. Currently, the theatre is operated by ATG (Ambassador Theatre Group) Entertainment via a lease from Glasgow City Council, who own the building, and it’s become a recognised venue for showcasing upcoming amateur productions and staging annual pantomimes that are popular during the festive season, with many local school children visiting to enjoy the performances.

ATG Entertainment is currently working with Glasgow City Council on a multimillion-pound redevelopment plan to upgrade the A-listed building to attract bigger shows to the venue.

To support the main contractor, the Insite Group, a specialist construction, refurbishment, and fit-out company, in preparing the King’s Theatre, an established landmark in the city centre, for its 120th anniversary.

We utilised the K2 modular scaffold system because it was initially designed for multi-storey block work and is ideal for refurbishment projects; it has a 50% greater load capacity when compared to alternative scaffold systems. The 3-metre-wide bays enable various tradespeople to carry out refurbishment work safely, including stonework, masonry repairs, repointing, and cleaning around the building façade simultaneously. We erected independent 8-lift-high scaffolds on Elmback Street and a 6-lift-high scaffold on Bath Street, then connected them with bridges to provide continual unobstructed access around the corner with the venue’s entrance area directly below.

All scaffolding was erected in one continuous operation and physically tied into the building, with careful planning to leave minimal traces of temporary access upon completion of the works. The scaffolding is built with fitted brick guards, edge protection, and steel toe boards before being covered with standard debris netting to protect pedestrians and road users below from any potential debris falling from the building. Additional smaller scaffolds were erected to permit access for rooftop remedial and refurbishment works, and we also erected a scaffold around the building’s dome to support necessary stonework repairs.

On behalf of the client, Enigma obtained a scaffold/road occupation permit from the local council.

The King’s Theatre is situated at a busy city centre crossroads junction with no parking permitted. So, with only a small laydown area behind the building, the on-site scaffolding team was paramount in overcoming the challenge of limited on-site equipment storage space. They had to liaise with Enigma’s operational team based at the Glasgow depot to provide bespoke instructions for material deliveries based on their exact daily requirements.

During the project, safety was paramount because the theatre remained fully operational throughout the busy pantomime season whilst work commenced. So, we installed debris netting to help protect visitors and pedestrians passing underneath the scaffold from any potential falling debris while refurbishing the stonework.

As the project progressed, we designed and erected a birdcage scaffold inside the theatre to further assist the client with their refurbishment programme.  Careful pre-planning and working closely with the client were instrumental in ensuring efficient coordination that meant the project was completed in time to celebrate the venue’s 120th anniversary celebration.