Sadler’s Wells East stands as the cultural centrepiece of Stratford Waterfront, a new creative district designed to enrich the legacy of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Conceived by architects O’Donnell & Tuomey, the building draws on the areas industrial past whilst creating a modern addition to the Stratford skyline.
The building’s sculptural form and intricate internal geometry created a challenge in term of engineering and construction. With a proven track record in delivering complex structures and working with different materials, Kilnbridge was appointed to deliver a package comprising of concrete, structural steel, post-tensioned reinforced concrete, acoustic-sensitive M&E interfaces and architectural finishes.
The architectural vision for Sadler’s Wells East centred on movement, rhythm and public engagement. O’Donnell & Tuomey’s design features a 500‑seat auditorium wrapped in sculptural concrete, six professional rehearsal studios and a series of public‑facing spaces intended to blur the boundary between performance and community. The building’s distinctive brick and concrete forms required exceptionally tight tolerances, suspended elements and complex interfaces with acoustic, mechanical and structural systems.
Kilnbridge’s in house teams – covering design, engineering and fabrication capabilities – were central to realising the architect’s vision. Curved concrete seating, steel audience stairs, lighting bridges, lighting purchase steelwork and interfaces with Jezet Seating’s collapsible mechanisms all required custom detailing and precision integration.
One of the project’s defining engineering achievements was the installation of the 26‑tonne proscenium trusses – fabricated in Scotland and delivered under police escort. Kilnbridge deployed a climbing construction methodology, casting the supporting concrete structures in tandem with the rising steelwork. This avoided major programme disruption and enabled millimetre‑accurate alignment within the theatre’s tight internal geometry.
The project unfolded under extraordinary external pressures. Mobilising just before the Covid‑19 pandemic, Kilnbridge re‑engineered logistics, lifting strategies and workforce management to maintain progress under strict health protocols.
Later, global inflation and material volatility threatened budgets. However, through early engagement, transparent cost planning and open‑book collaboration with the project team including client, the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), main contractor Mace and engineers Buro Happold, Kilnbridge maintained programme and budget stability.
Sustainability was embedded throughout. Sadler’s Wells East achieved BREEAM Excellent, integrating renewable energy, district heating and low‑carbon design principles. Kilnbridge supported this ambition through responsible sourcing, prefabrication, waste minimisation and the use of biodegradable materials where possible.
Outcome
At peak, more than 1,000 people passed through the site under the leadership of Kilnbridge’s Project Manager. With a steadfast commitment to health and safety throughout the project, Kilnbridge topped the health and safety league table for 18 consecutive months, achieving zero reportable accidents and zero lost‑time incidents over four and a half years, a testament to the team’s culture of care and discipline.
Sadler’s Wells East demonstrated the Kilnbridge’s ability to integrate complex structural, acoustic and architectural systems within a single cultural landmark. It reinforces the company’s reputation for delivering technically demanding, design‑led projects. Sadler’s Wells East is not just a building, it is an engineering landmark, a cultural legacy and a defining achievement for Kilnbridge.