Haworth Tompkins is working with the Liverpool Playhouse on a Capital Refurbishment Feasibility Study that will safeguard the future of the 156-year-old theatre. We will be leading a multi-disciplinary team including Liverpool based architects MGMA, Charcoalblue as Theatre Consultants, Layer Studio as Landscape Architects, Local Engagement by Placed along with regular collaborators Skelly & Couch, Price & Myers and Gardiner & Theobald.
Following on from our work with the Liverpool and Merseyside Theatre’s Trust on the Stirling Prize-winning Everyman, this Feasibility Study is looking at how a refurbishment of the Playhouse could be an exemplar for similar age theatres across the world, demonstrating that you can improve the environmental credentials of a listed building and its accessibility, while also acting as a catalyst for a cultural regeneration of its surrounding area.
On announcing the appointment, Mark Da Vanzo, CEO of the LMTT Trust which runs the Playhouse and the Everyman theatres said: “We’re looking forward to working alongside the City Council, City Region and Liverpool BID to reimagine the Liverpool Playhouse for the future with the Haworth Tompkins team. Together with their partners, they presented a proposal that honours our heritage and place in Williamson Square, while bringing the theatre into the 21st century, for staff, artists, for audiences and the communities we serve. Having led on the re-development of the RIBA Stirling Prize-winning Everyman, which had accessibility and sustainability at its heart, we can’t wait to see what might be possible for the Playhouse.”
Speaking as Director Lead for the project, Lucy Picardo from Haworth Tompkins said: “We're thrilled to be appointed. We already have a strong attachment to Liverpool through our work at the Everyman, led by my co-directors Steve Tompkins and Roger Watts, and much experience working with listed historic theatres such as Bristol Old Vic and Theatre Royal Drury Lane. With a great team of partners on board, we're looking forward to delivering an ambitious, sustainable, practical yet joyous vision for the Playhouse and Williamson Square.”
The team will begin work immediately, building on our existing knowledge of the theatres and the city region, with the report due in Spring 2023.
In the second of three NLA articles, Tom Gibson, Associate Director at Haworth Tompkins, reflects on the practice’s international mass timber projects and the lessons they offer for timber construction in the UK.
Last week, Haworth Tompkins received the Dewi-Prys Thomas Award for our work on Theatr Clwyd in Mold, North Wales. The award celebrates the role of design in improving quality of life and supporting regeneration across Wales.
The redevelopment of Pembroke Mill Lane, Cambridge, for Pembroke College has been recognised with four RIBA awards, including a 2026 RIBA East Award, Building of the Year, Project Architect and the Conservation Award.
Planning approval has been granted for two new residential developments at Regents Court and Orwell Court & Welshpool Street, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing Hackney New Homes Programme.
Following the announcement of £10m investment from the Arts Council England and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to undertake critical infrastructure repairs to the Grade I listed Royal Festival Hall, we are delighted to announce our appointment to work with the Southbank Centre on the next phases of this landmark project.
Tendring Cochester Borders Garden Community wins Pineapple Award for Future Place over 20ha!
Haworth Tompkins is thrilled to be working with Ashford Borough Council on the transformation of the former Odeon cinema building into a vibrant new cultural and community venue in the heart of Ashford.
Pembroke Mill Lane in Cambridge has won one of 21 National Civic Trust Awards from more than 300 entries.
| 25.03.26 | Mass Timber Design Innovations: from fire strategy to carbon reduction, the challenges and opportunities of designing with timber. → |
| 30.10.25 | Construction Reaches Topping Off Milestone for the New Home of the American Repertory Theater at Harvard University → |
| 28.07.25 | Haworth Tompkins reveals plans for the redevelopment of Grade I listed De La Warr Pavilion → |
| 13.05.25 | Haworth Tompkins to lead design of affordable housing in £2.5 Billion York Central Regeneration → |