Mace makes Contact

Mace has been appointed to provide Project Management Services by Contact, Manchester's innovative and provocative performance venue, which is undertaking a redevelopment programme worth £6.5m. 

The two year programme starting in June this year sees Mace delivering procurement advice, contract administration, risk and contingency management, change management and budget management for the project. The transformation of the Contact building is due to begin in April 2017 and £3.85m of the funding has come from the Arts Council.

The project involves the re-design and re-modelling of the existing accommodation as well as creating 300m² of additional space. Areas redeveloped will include the entrance, box office, café and bar to provide a much-improved visitor experience and fully accessible circulation to all public areas and performance spaces.

The design, led by architect Sheppard Robson, will provide additional performance and conference facilities, new office accommodation and significant opportunities for increased community and hires activity.

Mace Project Director, Steve Gillingham, said: “Working with Contact in the Arts and Culture sector is a privilege and it is great to be involved with a project that will directly impact on the community and local people who will use the theatre. This project forms part of a long line of Arts& Cultural schemes in the region and we are proud to be working with Contact to realise their ambitious scheme.”

Matt Fenton, Artistic Director & Chief Executive of Contact, said: “Working with MACE project managers has given us huge confidence as we move towards the detailed design and construction phases of our transformation of the Contact building. We feel that they understand and support our aspiration to create a building that is genuinely welcoming and accessible for young people, artists, audiences and local communities.”