LSO St Lukes - Background
LSO St Lukes is a converted church with striking architecture, which is used for rehearsals by the London Symphony Orchestra, and also as a conference auditorium and performance theatre. The decision to install telescopic seating reflected the multipurpose nature of the building. But this practical requirement was matched by a need for the seating to be aesthetically sympathetic with the venue's interior.
Retractable Seating with a Refined FinishAudience Systems worked with the building's development company to produce a refined design for both the chairs and telescopic platforms. A neutral tone for the upholstery and the use of beech veneered fascia panels on the retractable platforms create a neat, unobtrusive appearance for the seating whether the unit is open or closed. This, coupled with the telescopic platforms' inherently quiet design, means that the presence of a retractable seating system causes minimum disruption to the building's ambience. On the balconies, Espace 628 chairs are also used; these match those on the telescopic platforms and are removable for additional flexibility.
Simon Wales, then Centre Director of LSO St Lukes, was pleased not only with the aesthetic effect but also with the performance of the seating which has proved to be "flexible and extremely reliable." In fact the system has been completely trouble-free since its installation in 2002. An additional benefit has been the comfort of the Espace 628 chair, which was specifically designed to combine the comfort needed in an auditorium with the slim profile needed for telescopic applications.
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Simon Wales, Former Centre Director of LSO St Lukes
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Exterior of the former St Lukes Church
© Copyright 2003
Matthew Weinreb
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