Royal Academy of Dance
London
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16 April 2026 / 3:39 pmRoyal Academy of Dance
London, UK
60,000 sq ft
Full MEP Services
A specialist performance and education facility delivered with acoustically sensitive, fully integrated MEP systems.
Overview
The UK headquarters of the Royal Academy of Dance is a purpose-built, state-of-the-art facility located in London, designed to support professional dance education, performance and community engagement. The building extends to approximately 60,000 sq ft and brings together teaching, performance and public-facing spaces within a single integrated environment.
The facility includes seven full-size dance studios, a studio theatre seating 193 people, two cafés, a specialist dance library and a large reception space designed to host exhibitions and events. The studio theatre is equipped with a full lighting rig and sound desk and is used by both the Royal Academy of Dance and community partner organisations.
As a specialist cultural and performance venue, the building demanded high standards of environmental control, acoustic performance and technical coordination to support both teaching and live performance activities.
Our Scope
Update Group was appointed to deliver the full MEP services for the Royal Academy of Dance headquarters on a Design & Build basis. The scope covered all mechanical, electrical and public health systems required to support a diverse mix of performance, rehearsal, education and public spaces.
Given the building’s use as a performance venue, acoustic performance was a critical design driver. Update Group carefully engineered acoustic treatments across the mechanical systems, including the specification and installation of attenuators and silencers for chillers and air handling units, to minimise noise and vibration within studios and the theatre.
The project also included extensive ELV systems installations, supporting theatre lighting, sound, communications and specialist systems throughout the building. These elements required detailed coordination during both the design and commissioning phases to ensure system integration, reliability and ease of operation for end users.
A technically complex performance facility delivered with acoustically engineered MEP systems and extensive ELV integration.
Specifications
Building size:
Approximately 60,000 sq ft specialist education and performance facility
Primary spaces:
Seven full-size dance studios and a 193-seat studio theatre with full lighting and sound infrastructure
Contract type:
Full MEP services delivered on a Design & Build basis
Acoustic engineering:
Attenuators and silencers integrated into chillers and AHUs to meet performance space requirements
ELV systems:
Extensive low-voltage installations supporting theatre, communications and specialist systems
Commissioning:
Detailed planning and staged commissioning to ensure performance, acoustic integrity and operational reliability