TClarke celebrates largest regional arts projects ever

TClarke’s South West team has played a major role in delivering the Bristol Beacon which opened with great success last week.

TClarke delivered the full MEP installation for the Bristol Beacon, in what is the largest such arts project in the region. Our programme included specialist stage lighting and AV containment, life safety systems and data along with the full mechanical and electrical infrastructure. As a world class music and performance venue the ventilation, heating and cooling require particularly fine control to deliver the perfect visitor experience. TClarke’s market leading expertise has been critical in designing and delivering everything to the highest specifications.

Rob Faro, Director – UK South, paid tribute to all the TClarke people who have helped to design and deliver this project:

“The Arts Venue that has emerged is a ‘once in a generation’ transformation project – and an amazing cultural asset – not just for Bristol but for the whole region. This project has become a fusion between the highest level of modern engineering systems and technology integration alongside the conservation of an iconic historic building.

“So many TClarke people have worked hard – overcoming challenges, delivering high quality work and committing themselves to a project that everyone can benefit from for decades to come. I am extremely proud of what they have achieved here. Bristol Beacon shows the capability of TClarke to deliver quality and partnership – and to output a piece of cultural infrastructure with real value for generations to come.”

“As an amateur musician I have had the privilege to perform in some amazing venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, and the Symphony Hall in Birmingham however, performances at the Bristol Beacon have always been a favourite of mine. This has been a fantastic opportunity to play a part in its transformation – combining my love of music and passion for delivering high quality, complex projects.”

Justin Backwell, Divisional Director responsible for the teams delivering this project commented : “From the outset, we knew that this would be a challenging project to deliver; however we had the confidence that our brilliant teams in Bristol were more than capable of success. Despite starting the project just before the Covid pandemic, coupled with structural and complex engineering challenges, we have delivered an outstanding project. Its success is testament to the close collaboration throughout the team from the end client, Bristol Music Trust and Bristol City Council to Willmott Dixon and our supply chain. As I approach my 20th year working at TClarke in Bristol this has been a highlight of my career so far. I am very proud of our teams performance, capability and collaborative aproach throughout.”

Mark Lawrence, CEO said “TClarke have a track record in delivering iconic projects in every sector. The completion of this major project by our Southwest team shows we can do this anywhere in the country. Delivering projects like this, with local people, including several apprentices who have worked on this project, is a real example of how our business is delivering against our objectives”.