Fitzpatrick Hall

Fitzpatrick Hall in Lecture Configuration

The Fitzpatrick Hall is a multi-purpose theatre. It can be configured for use:

• as a lecture theatre (as shown here)
• as a theatre for drama
• as a cinema for film-shows
• as a badminton court (also suitable for volley-ball)
• as a venue for bops and gigs (or any flat-floor event).

There is no natural light in the hall ,which makes it exceptionally suitable for low-light presentations even in summer. It is fully ventilated, with an air cooling and heating system. The hall is wrapped in a double layer of concrete for full sound proofing. The auditorium floor is fully sprung wood strip. Seats are fully upholstered with arm-rests.

The built-in technical and other features include:

• retractable seating for 208 seats; extra seats can be manually set.
• stage lifts for raising and lowering the stage.
• mixture of hemps and winches for flying stage apparatus.
• retractable cinema projection screen (as shown above).
• retractable FOH stage lighting (leaving 8m clear to ceiling for badminton).
• PA system, sound mixer desk, with radio mics, CD, cassette, and real-to-reel tape sources.
• Video projection system, with VHS, off-air TV, and computer video sources.
• Dual 35mm slide projection.
• Dual 16mm cine projection.
• Dual OHP.
• Computer-controlled stage lighting control system.

The Fitzpatrick Hall Theatre was completed in 1989 as part of Lyon Court, Phase 3 of the Cripps Court development, and the benefaction of the Cripps Foundation.

Architects for Phase 3 of Cripps Court: Bland, Brown & Cole, of Cambridge.

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