Pathé | Rotterdam

Renewed cinema plays a starring role in downtown Rotterdam again

The Pathé Schouwburgplein building in Rotterdam has received a major facelift over the past six months. The light, white and partly transparent facade looks much fresher and makes this well-known cinema building a worthy eye-catcher again.

The renovation of the exterior facade is a commission from Pathé. Epicurus is conducting the construction management and the execution is in the hands of Dura Vermeer. The construction company of Rotterdam origin was involved in the project in March 2017, to participate in the development and realization of the building in a construction team. "The exterior facade was in need of renovation," says Dura Vermeer's business manager of maintenance and renovation Cock Geerlings. "It was not only dated and virtually uninsulated, but also dirty. The corrugated sheets on the facade had collected dirt for years and could not be cleaned."

Through the white decorative plaster or stucco and white plastic siding
the facade is a lot lighter and easier to maintain.

Lighter and easier to maintain
Compared to the original design, the new design by Koen van Velsen architects is much lighter and maintenance-friendly. The specially coated stucco, as well as the white plastic facade cladding, largely contribute to this. Moreover, there is now also a good maintenance plan for the cinema building. The facade on the square side of the cinema is cleaned with abseilers. The other facades are cleaned with an aerial platform.

Work
Last May, Dura Vermeer's work began. "First we set up our scaffolding on the entrance side," says Geerlings. "Of the cinema auditorium that sticks out, we stuccoed the end façade and two sections of the longitudinal façade. The rest of the building - some 75%, we provided the plastic sheets. These sheets are lighter and smoother than the old cladding, self-insulating and forty millimeters thick. They also have a higher insulation value." Dura Vermeer removed the old horizontal sheets, adjusted the substructure and mounted the new sheets vertically. Geerlings: "The longest plate we mounted is 21 meters. We had to pay close attention to the expansion of the building. Temperature differences can cause such a plate to move ten centimeters in and out. The structure had to provide enough room for that."

The cladding is mounted vertically.

Complex logistics
Logistically, the renovation of the cinema facade also required attention. For example, the construction site was surrounded by two public roads, an Albert Heijn supermarket and concert and conference center De Doelen. Nothing could be placed on the square in front of the cinema building and only light equipment could be placed on the parking deck. To give the scaffolding a stable base, Dura Vermeer placed it through the deck, directly on top of the concrete parking garage. Geerlings: "Despite the complex logistics, the contact with the users of the surrounding buildings went smoothly. With the Albert Heijn and De Doelen we were able to make good agreements, and the municipality was very willing."

Internal remodeling
"The cooperation with Pathé was also very pleasant," continued Geerlings. "They kept the store open during the work and even did another internal renovation." Having previously opened the renovated IMAX theater, all other theaters now feature larger screens and more luxurious seats with more legroom. For snacks and drinks, moviegoers can visit the new Pathé Boulevard food & beverage concept. "It has become a nice finishing touch," Geerlings said. "Those who go to the movies at Christmas imagine themselves in a completely new cinema."