Published: 21/01/2017
An agreement between the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) and property developers York Place Buildings has been reached to provide a brand new purpose built headquarters for this historic institution.York Place Buildings has guaranteed a newly built state of the art home for the RAD in exchange for their current premises on Battersea Square.
The Battersea Square premises will be converted into 34 flats and 5 modern town houses designed by Assael Architects, and which has won Sunday Times British Homes Awards Housing Project of the Year.
The council has approved plans for the redevelopment of the Homebase warehouse and car park on York Road, making the RAD’s new home just a mile away from the original location. The project, designed by architects Patel Taylor, features seven studios, a flexible performance space with moveable seating, improved accessibility, modernised changing rooms and office space, two cafés and the opportunity to display the academy’s extensive archives in a new library.
There will also be more opportunity for the local community to hire space, watch or participate in dance activities and performances at the new building.
Luke Rittner, Chief Executive of the RAD, said: "As a world leader in dance education and training, our new home needs to reflect that status in every way. I believe that this new building will be a world-class headquarters that will not only make our members, staff and partners proud, it will also help us to fulfil our mission in support of dance and dance education internationally."
Cllr Ravi Govindia, Leader of Wandsworth Council, said: “I am delighted that the Royal Academy of Dance will remain in Wandsworth. Their new headquarters will represent a major new attraction and we will be working closely with the Academy in the coming months to help more local people get involved with their work. https://goo.gl/JxZmTb