The Forum Trust has appointed Mansell Construction Services Limited from Swaffham to deliver the planned improvements to the south wing of The Forum, on the Theatre Street side of the landmark building. Work on site will start this week and is expected to take six months to complete.

 

Externally, the developments involve glazing in the triangular end of the south wing below the BBC offices, new glass doors on to the external paved area known as Millennium Plain and an additional door facing Theatre Street to retain an access route to the car park from outside.

 

Internally, an ambitious plan is proposed, with the Forum Trust working in partnership with City College Norwich and the BBC to provide new services, including a digital media gallery and learning space, a free educational facility and resource for filming and editing under the expert supervision of the BBC and an auditorium for business, performance, educational and community use. A new Reception point will serve the BBC and act as a gateway to the new facilities.

 

The plans also provide for the creation of a new shop, as well as a remodelled Tourist Information Centre that will be much more visible and accessible to its many visitors.

 

Robin Hall, Chief Executive of The Forum Trust said: “These are exciting times for The Forum Trust as we continually seek ways of keeping The Forum up-to-date and relevant to the public and its users.

 “These changes mean The Forum will be offering exciting new facilities and we are very happy to have appointed Mansell Construction to help us deliver this important project.”

 

Dick Palmer, City College Norwich Principal said: “These improvements are great news for the people of Norwich and Norfolk, and City College Norwich is proud to be a contributing partner. Enabling innovative learning opportunities through a variety of creative and technology based delivery methods will enable City College Norwich and The Forum to become a leading edge learning provider”.

 

Tim Bishop, Head of BBC East said: "We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with the other partners at The Forum to build on the work we've done in our Voices Centre. Our aim is to use the skills and expertise of the BBC to help other people tell their stories, create some powerful learning opportunities and give a chance for people to tell their unique story in their way. We've run a wide a variety of pioneering projects with schools, individuals and groups and now want to expand that work into new areas, building on the experience we've been developing in Voices."

 

The Origins Attraction and the Forum’s existing shop have now closed. While work is in progress, it is very much ‘business as usual’ for the Tourist Information Centre which has been relocated to the Assembly House for the next few months.