Complete renovation: Planning and construction management for stage machinery and stage control

We are proud to have played a key role in one of the most prominent cultural construction projects in Europe. Theater Engineering planned and supervised the installation of new stage technology for the renovation of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden as part of a planning consortium (ATI-Arge Theater Ingenieure).

The project is characterized by complex requirements due to monument protection and the integration of extensive technology into the existing building structure.

Photo: © Andreas Schippel  

Stage Technology & Historic Preservation

Construction work in existing theaters, opera houses, concert halls, or other cultural buildings takes place under special circumstances and follows its “own rules.” The existing structure must be protected, and any existing equipment and installations need to be carefully assessed for reuse. Temporary or alternative venues may need to be arranged to accommodate performance schedules. Read more about the specific challenges of renovating or converting cultural buildings.

Technical Challenges in the Renovation of the Staatsoper Berlin

For acoustic reasons, the auditorium ceiling was raised to increase the room volume, while the exterior building envelope remained unchanged. This significantly reduced the available space for stage technology and MEP installations in the roof. By fully planning this area using 3D elements, Theater Engineering was able to integrate all components into the existing space.

Existing lighting positions in the auditorium also had to be adjusted. Among other solutions, Theater Engineering developed a motorized, lowering lighting rig around the chandelier, which can only be lowered after the audience has entered.

Scope

Within the project consortium, Theater Engineering was responsible for the entire upper stage machinery (stage and auditorium), the rehearsal stages, and the overall stage control system. Additionally, the planning consortium was tasked with coordinating all technical installations in the stage tower.

Stage Machinery

• New Construction of Stage Machinery
• Completely new upper and lower stage machinery, executed as a planning consortium (ATI)

Theater Engineering GmbH Scope

• Dismantling services for stage machinery
• Upper stage machinery for main and apron stage with backdrop lines, heavy-duty lines, lighting lines, point lines, gate systems, safety devices, and additional rigging equipment
• Heavy-duty load cells in the roof support structure for real-time monitoring of load conditions
• Stage control system for the entire upper and lower machinery, with approximately 280 axes
• Fixed steel construction for the upper stage with five gallery levels, fly floor, and roll floor