2025 Commercial or Public Sector Project national winner: R & M Williams Limited

National winner: R & M Williams Limited

The Palace Theatre, a Grade II listed building constructed in 1888, is the oldest surviving theatre in the city. Restoring it required a creative yet sympathetic approach, balancing the needs of a modern city with the preservation of the theatre’s historic character.

Empty since 2006 and unable to secure redevelopment funding under private ownership, the six-storey building was purchased by Swansea Council in 2020. The vision was to transform it into a state-of-the-art Grade A flexible office and event space, while retaining its iconic features. Working closely with the council’s appointed conversion architect specialist, the team undertook a meticulous restoration, reconfiguration, and refurbishment. This included carefully stripping out fixtures, addressing the absence of a functioning roof, and resolving issues caused by a flooded basement to ensure a safe environment before construction could proceed.

The project faced significant challenges, including disruptions to material supply and resources during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ukraine war, and the cost of living crisis. Overcoming these obstacles required determination, close collaboration, and adaptability from all parties involved.

Strong stakeholder relationships were maintained through contract framework coordination workshops and housekeeping meetings attended by the Design Team, Client, and hosted by the Client’s agent (TC Consult). These sessions were vital for effective stakeholder mapping and establishing collaborative protocols for the duration of the contract.

The Palace Theatre’s transformation is a testament to the combined expertise and commitment of the Client, Design, and Delivery teams. The result is a vibrant, flexible venue, with the capacity to revert to theatre use if required.