Science Museum IMAX Theatre

Client: The Science Museum
Architect: Ellis Williams Architects
Photography: Science Museum Group
Completion: 2020
Value: £1.6m

The Science Museum’s IMAX Theatre has undergone a major refurbishment and is now one of only two venues in Europe featuring both of IMAX’s premium formats in one venue.

Webb Yates Engineers provided the building services engineering for the full refurbishment of the IMAX auditorium and support spaces, including replacement of close control plant for the projector room.

As well as a refreshment of all public areas the work includes an upgrade to digital projection and associated electrical and data infrastructure. The existing IMAX projector is being retained and so a new power supply has been provided to the roof level plant room, with cables routed up through the building from the basement switchboard. General services upgrades have also been needed to bring the building up to date, including providing a disabled refuge alarm and full scale replacement of emergency lighting.

The principal challenges on this project have been connecting to existing infrastructure and designing for installation in a live building with very limited access.