ODEON Cinemas is the largest cinema chain in the UK and Europe and Odeon Chatham is one of their stand-alone developments which forms part of the Dickens World complex, celebrating the life and works of the legendary author Charles Dickens and forming a popular tourist attraction at Chatham Maritime in Kent.

Project brief: WBM were commissioned by Dickens World to advise on all acoustic issues associated with the shell and fit-out including planning, specification and lease matters, shell construction, compliance testing and fit-out design aspects. Also to ensure that Odeon’s high specification standards in relation to all shell and fit-out aspects would be met.

Acoustic aspects: The development at Chatham is an independent cinema building accommodating 9 screens within a unique building form. Most aspects of the acoustics were relatively typical of such buildings, with the main challenge being balancing the needs of Dickens World with those of the end user Odeon, throughout the shell and fit-out phases.

Outcome: For Dickens World and Odeon, peace of mind, knowing that the acoustic issues were continually being monitored and actions followed up on site. For everyone involved, a visually striking cinema building, with good acoustics, at the heart of a popular tourist complex.