The Corn Exchange

A major transformation of the Brighton Dome Corn Exchange as part of Brighton & Hove City Council’s future vision to reaffirm the Royal Pavilion Estate as a key cultural destination. The Grade I listed Corn Exchange was built in the nineteenth century for the Prince Regent as his riding house, located next to his stables which is now Brighton Dome Concert Hall. The building has had many guises over its 200-year history and is now a leading performing arts venue. Many of the original 200-year old interior features have been refurbished and upgraded, including the installation of 6,500 linear meters (the equivalent size of a football pitch) of solid oak cladding along the length of the Corn Exchange walls and inside the ‘eyelid’ roof arches. The arches along the roof level were formed by bending thin layers of plywood and oak to create the 10nr curved sections, which replicate the original interior specification. We also re-produced 34nr decorative pilasters (rectangular wall columns), which run from the floor to five metres high, matching the original detailing from Prince Regent’s riding house. One of the core challenges in the design and production process was to research a fire spread of flame product which wouldn’t detract from the natural beauty of the wood, but would also offer the required fire protection. After careful research, together with the Architect we identified a spread of frame product that would meet the specification, while balancing with the desired aesthetic.  

NBJ’s scope also extended beyond the panelling into the newer sections of the building, with unitary (reception desks, storage cupboards, coat cupboards), fitted joinery and new panelling, internal doorsets and staircase cladding and handrails.