Mar 3 2005
Detail of quotes
1.Accountant. Make detailed analysis of accounts with forecasts to show impact
of mortgage. Also predictions in new income activity. 5, 10 and 20 year forecasts.
2.Surveyors Evaluation. Determine value of building in terms of development into
flats, NO-development, theatre status, protected building, etc. All to arrive
at a reasonable value of the building to commence negotiations with owner.
(also access way via car park, projection room!!!)
3.Structural Survey. To ascertain condition of building with view to carry out
main alterations as listed below, to determine buldings suitability for specific
changes planned/designed in conjunction with Architect.
4.Architects Drawings. Visual ideas for building expansions and alterations made
in conjunction with Cube staff. Bar plans, mezzanine plans, fly loft plans, etc.
5.Brave. Business advice generally, business plan feedback.
6.Business Plan. Writing main framework for development to own building. Plans
for future growth, new activities, SWOT, and co-ordination of appointments of
professional services. We will also carry out our own access audit.
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Mar 3 2005
Make feasibility study in co-op buying building.
requires:
1. Business plans for future/expansion. Includes activity expansion.
2. Surveyors bricks/mortar estimation. Land evaluation.
3. Business yield evaluation and accounts analysis.
4. Commercial mortgage advice?? Triodos can supply info. Its a matter of
accounts and business plan. What can the Cube afford, over what period?
5. Building/Architectual plans/sketches. Includes addressing access issues.**
6. Fund raising research.
7. Theatre trust, Theatre status and campaign plans.
Why do we want to buy the building?
What are the advantages in owning over renting?
After the grant we need to be in a position to know;
How much the site is reasonably worth::
How much we can afford to borrow::
How our organisation will develop to follow buying::
What kinds of funds, grants, etc can we generate to develop the building::
Options for worst case scenario, no sale and predicted closure of the Cube.
Mar 3 2005
**
I see main building expansion as follows:
1> Mezzanine 'gallery' in zone for office on upper level, green room on lower.
This frees existing office space, improves working environment and makes
efficient existing stage support area (zone).
2> Bar expansion by removing walls and moving bar space into office.
This improves working conditions, increases capacity and expands resources (more
wall space for exhibitions).
3> Fire escapes and Fly Loft clear span to make new rooms. The fly loft space
could fit 2 whole existing office spaces with room to spare. Go figure what we
could do with this resource. (studios, education suite, labs, etc)
4> Roof patio area above zone, access from fly loft. Pleasant, wonderful, useful
and luxurious outside area for staff, projects and recreation.
5> Solar power.
This indicates our committment to renewable energy and saves money in the long term.
UPDATE
October 2005
1>Lift access.
Access to bar/toilets, cinema front row and stage has been considered at length.
The best place has revealed itself as the area occupied roughly by the Princess Row door
and the curtain winching gear on stage. Installing this access raises many issues.
1. What happens to the staff loo?
2. How is the noise from stage now isolated from the bar (a lift effectively being a hole
in the floor). ie a new wall in office which partitions the office from the NEW PUBLIC AREA?
3. How is curtain winching resumed?
4. How is the cinema/princess row fire exit modified?
5. What becomes the replcement main fire exit from bar?..
6. ..and from upper areas.
etc.
2>NEW PUBLIC AREA. A design and function theme has been to create MORE space for the bar and public
in this type of space. Not necessarily a 'bigger/better bar', but a way inwhich the dividing walls
(up which the zone stairs go through) are modified to make the lower floor (except the end section
by lift, toilet and Princess Row doors) 'seem' like one space, OPEN and INVITING for the public
to enter into as soon as they enter the building. One idea is to reverse the direction of the stairs
so they are entered from what is effectively behind the bar, and the bar continues along the wall into
the NEW space. (it was once like this back in the day). Please see me (hogge) to view model.
Space is opened under the stairs, the wall is reduced and the room slowly becomes ONE room.
This is not to say it IS one room, feeling empty when only a couple of people are here. Such
a new room could host small scale events and screenings. (simultaneous to stage ones)
3>Zone development.
The ZONE has always offered exciting expansion prospects. A mezzanine can fit into the space
and create a TOTALLY NEW floor for the office (which is now effectively the public bar give or take
a tea/breakfast station and sink and a couple of PCs, ie a bar support area).
The area below the mezzanine can also be arranged to house workstations and a suitable system to
reflect its use as a band/artist green room and backstage room. Both these rooms will have daylight.
Passage between mezzanine, green room and bar and bar support area is subject to strict FIRE access
and various related building regs, so currently we are just sketching ideas, NONE of these things
are 'decided' plans.
4>Toilets.
The whole gents toilet block is large enough to allow, after remodelling
a new disabled unisex loo. The whole gents block will undergo a raise in floor level to reach
the same height as the bar and office, the main ower floor level, which is itself
BELOW Princess Row street level. The implications of this are thus:
The bar and all steps outside will become ONE floor.
The ladies will be reached by short run of stairs.
5>Fly Lopht.
One day we may get there. But expansion into the fly tower area is outside the scope of
FAD. Its important the we demonstrate a 'vision' or 'Ideal use' for this area as this will
only help our standing with potential lenders to buy.
The structural survey retured the verdict that this area WILL be suitable for clear span
floor or floors and occupation as office/studio. The roof of the Zone could be a great outdoor
terrace/space and the main roof could house enough solar arrays to power kingsdown!.