Refurbishment of Attenborough Centre about to begin

Refurbishment of Attenborough Centre about to begin. The University is about to appoint a contractor to refurbish the interior of the Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts, with work due to start on site in June. The architecturally unique building, formerly known as the Gardner Arts Centre, closed in 2007. Emergency repairs to the exterior of the grade II* listed building were undertaken in 2011-12 and it is set to re-open in 2014 once the interior refurbishment has been completed. In 2009 the building was renamed as a tribute to the involvement of Lord (Richard) Attenborough and his family with both the University and the arts. Lord Attenborough, Oscar-winning film director and actor, was Chancellor of the University from 1998-2008. Speaking in 2012, Lord Attenborough said: "I have no doubt that the Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts will make a significant contribution to performing arts education and practice for generations to come." The project to remodel the interior of the building will provide a flexible auditorium with various seating options and a minimum capacity of 350.