Work on Hexagon in Reading to reduce risk from 'crumbly concrete'
The council say mitigation work has taken place in back stage area as a precaution
Last updated 12th Sep 2023
Visitors to the Hexagon theatre in Reading are being reassured about its safety after it was confirmed to us RACC concrete was used in its construction.
The council say inspections by structural engineers took place a year ago and the building had been cleared to remain fully operational.
The council added precautionary mitigations have been put in place in parts of the backstage area and more inspections will take place over the autumn period.
The council plans to add a studio theatre to the hexagon and they say a section of the backstage area will be replaced during that work.
Council statement in full:
“The use of RAAC panels in the construction of the Hexagon Theatre is foreseeable given the period in which it was built when they were widely used in the construction industry.
“We would reassure residents and visitors that both visual and geometric testing has already taken place on accessible panels by expert structural engineers, who have advised the Council there is no reason why the Hexagon should not remain fully operational. These inspections, initiated in September 2022, pre-date the recent news coverage of RAAC and were undertaken as part the Council’s routine maintenance regime of all its buildings.
“Some precautionary mitigations in backstage areas are in place which have minimal implications for theatre operations, and these are being managed. Further inspections will continue over the autumn period and the Council will continue to take advice from structural engineers at each and every stage if any further actions are required.
“As part of the Council’s plans to extend the existing theatre by adding a new Studio Theatre at the Hexagon, a section of the backstage area would additionally be replaced during the construction phase.”