Queen’s Hall moves to next stage of redevelopment

Under the auspices of the Ministry of Community Develop-ment, Culture and Gender Affairs, the Board of Queen’s Hall has signed a $3.2 million contract with Alpha Engineering Ltd for the implementation of Phase II of the planned re-development programme.

This vital phase will focus on improving external facilities and amenities at Queen’s Hall, bringing increased comfort to both clients and patrons. The works will include: Resurfacing of car park areas; installation of appropriate drainage; construction of a ticket booth; improvement of outdoor lighting; refurbishment of the outdoor stage; and landscaping.

Signed last week by Queen’s Hall Chairman Astra Da Costa and Alpha Engineering’s Pedro Camacho, the contract represents one of the several initiatives undertaken by the board since its installation just under ten months ago. As with phase I of the re-development project completed in 2002, design work and technical support are being provided by Consulting Architects Gillespie and Steel, which will oversee the exercise.

The Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs has been largely responsible for providing critical guidance and resources — financial and human — for the redevelopment programme. In commenting on this next step of the upgrade, line minister Senator Joan Yuille-Williams expressed her ministry’s gratification and her own personal pleasure "that Queen’s Hall — one of the country’s main centres for nurturing our performing arts sector — is continuing to be enhanced to support our artistes, producers, patrons and the myriad other elements that make up this vital community."

The Queen’s Hall board has been making preparations for the anticipated impact of the works, and Chairman Astra Da Costa stressed: "The hall will remain open and operational throughout this exercise and — barring any unforeseeable circumstances — we will meet all our obligations to those who have booked with us for the period."

Major impact of the works will be on critical outdoor spaces, and the board has committed itself to doing everything possible to minimise inconvenience to users of the hall. Da Costa noted, "The public’s comfort and safety is paramount, and suitable and secure alternative arrangements for parking will be put in place." She also assured that the public would be kept informed of the implementation and scheduling of the works in a timely manner.

Technical mobilisation for the project has begun and first earth works will commence within two weeks. Projection is for these improvements — phase II of the Queen’s Hall re-development Plan — to be completed within six months.