Key Statistics:
Project Overview
The Aviva Studios, home of Factory International, set out to create one of the UK’s most ambitious and versatile entertainment spaces. The vision called for flexible, adaptable performance areas that could host multiple events simultaneously – from intimate theatre to full-scale opera or live concerts – all without compromising audience experience.Central to this ambition was a world-first: a bespoke, high-performance, vertically sliding acoustic door system that could divide or unite vast internal spaces as required. With no off-the-shelf solution available, Booth Industries was engaged to design, engineer, and manufacture this one-of-a-kind installation.
Why Booth Industries?
Our reputation as the UK’s leading bespoke high-performance door manufacturer made us the natural partner for this highly complex challenge. The client’s architects and consultants worked closely with our in-house engineering team to turn the concept into reality, benefiting from Booth’s proven track record in innovation, large-scale manufacturing, and complex certification projects.
The Solution
Through an intensive design and development phase, we created two vertically-sliding, power-operated acoustic doorsets, each weighing over 80 tonnes – approximately the weight of a space shuttle. These monumental doors achieve exceptional sound reduction ratings, ensuring that performances in adjacent spaces can run concurrently without interference.
When closed, the doors transform the venue into multiple acoustically independent performance spaces. When open, they allow for a single, expansive space capable of hosting large-scale events.
Project Challenges & Innovation
- Weight & Scale: Engineering doorsets of this magnitude demanded precision structural design, specialist handling solutions, and unique manufacturing techniques.
- Acoustic Performance: Achieving the client’s strict sound isolation requirements required bespoke acoustic sealing systems and meticulous testing.
- Architectural Integration: The doors had to meet high performance standards while complementing the venue’s striking architectural vision.
