The Brixton Academy

The Brixton Academy

Brixton Academy listings
History
Development

History

Brixton Academy is undoubtedly one of Britain’s premier live music venue, having been voted the UK’s ’Best Venue’ by readers of the NME for the 7th year running and Live Magazine ’Venue of the Year’ 2000 & 2001.

The Academy started life in 1929 as the Astoria Theatre. At the time it was the UK’s first ’atmospheric’ theatre with the fascia of the building and entrance foyer typical of the ’Art Deco’ Architecture of the time.

Internally, the auditorium is an architectural masterpiece with the proscenium arch based on the world famous Rialto Bridge. The building is so important architecturally that it has Grade 2* listed status.

To coincide with the new millennium, Brixton Academy’s on going schedule of major works continues with 2001, seeing installation of a new safety floor to the rear of the Auditorium and new toilets and safety shutters being installed.

Development

Built in 1929 as the flagship venue of the Astoria Theatre, Brixton Academy has a heritage, which is part of the lifeblood of the UK entertainment industry.

Having said that, though the building has grade 2*listed status, in recent years the building had started to look a bit ’tatty’. However all of this has now changed with the completition of the (6 and a half m) frontage project and the reccupeting flooring of all public areas.

The entire building is now undergoing a repaint, with the building having been hardwired for broadcast purposes. Additionally they are about to undertake the installation of a video link and monitoring system to give enhanced sound and visual coverage throughout the building.

The McKenzie Group, the current owners of the Academy have already invested a substantial sum in the ongoing upgrade of the backstage facilities including the building of the new hospitality area "The Green Room" as well as the refurbishment of the backstage "VIP Bar".

More importantly than this, in June 1999, the Academy embarked on it’s most ambitious project yet, the complete redevelopment of the frontage of the building, to it’s original Art Deco splendour. The £1/2m project was a partnership between the McKenzie Group, English Heritage and Lambeth CAP and was completed for the new millennium.

text and image taken from www.brixton-academy.co.uk