Projection Room Design in Multiplexes

Eight years ago, my colleague and I in Bill Chew Associates (*), wrote an article on projection room design for CT which covered mainly the design of projection rooms in traditional cinemas and touched briefly on design aspects in multiplexes. The shape of cinema exhibition in the U.K. has changed enormously in the intervening period, largely as a result of the huge investment and boom in the construction of multiplexes. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the modern projection room, discussing the requirements of the projection and sound system, cinema automation, fire alarm system, infrared system (to comply with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995), new innovations in the projection room, mechanical ventilation and electrical installations for cinemas. To assist me in providing a more objective assessment of the current state of projection room design, I visited two recently completed multiplexes, namely the 9-screen Warner Islington and the 16-screen Ster Century multiplex at the Brewery retail and leisure complex in Romford. My thanks are due to the management and projection room staff of both these cinemas for their help and cooperation in the writing of this article.

Print ISSN

1545-0279

Electronic ISSN

2160-2492

Published

2003-05

Content type

Information

DOI

10.5594/J12382