The Arc Cinema

Leonard Design Architects wanted the building to have a contemporary design, to reflect its recent development, whilst also mirroring the palette of materials used in the neighbouring buildings and conservation area. The muted grey Corium brick tile was selected to allow the planting scheme around the building to stand out against its background.

The layout of the cinema was carefully considered so that at street level, the chamfered walls help to lead customers into the development, without coming across any sharp corners. The upper floor is cantilevered to provide cover over the cinema entrance, as well as give significance to the main lobby.

The cinema was completed and opened to the public in May 2021 after a much-anticipated construction process through the Covid-19 pandemic. Due to the cinema being built on a tight and urban site, next to a tram line and overhead power lines, the design called for a facade system that took away the need for scaffolding and subsequent loss of space on site. Corium provided the perfect solution, as it can be dropped into place by a crane and fixed onto the facade with the use of a mast climber. It was also important that the site was made watertight as soon as possible so that work could begin on the inside, another reason why Corium, with its quick installation times was an ideal facade solution.

The architects design vision was to have vertically laid bricks with LED strip lighting running down the building, something which Corium could accommodate due to its ability to have tiles laid vertically with a much quicker installation time than traditional brickwork. The strip lighting and vertical tiles on the facade create a unique and striking appearance, made possible by the flexibility in design options with Corium brick cladding. These Flexus LED light fixtures were designed and supplied by Kemps Architectural Lighting. The development creates a special and welcoming hub for locals and visitors to use and enjoy; a positive step in the re-emergence of the leisure sector, it was the first new cinema to open following the pandemic.

The development has been carefully designed to be sustainable and respectful to the surrounding environment. With its close proximity to public transport links and the town centre, the cinema encourages customers to arrive via means other than a car. Cycle parking has also been integrated into the landscaped area outside, providing a friendly and useable environment for cyclists. The soft landscaping around the development will increase biodiversity on the site and make the development a more sustainable and environmentally friendly area into the future.

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