A REDEVELOPED Ebrington Centre will become a landmark building at the heart of the Waterside community, the centre manager has said.
Work began in late May on the 19th century building, formerly the site of the Ebrington shirt factory and home to the Maydown Ebrington Group since 1991.
Funded by the Department of Culture Arts & Leisure and the Local Strategy Partnership for Der
ry City Council Area, the near £1million makeover is set to be completed in September.
Initially focused on government training provision, the Ebrington Centre now acts as a hub for community and arts services and houses the Waterside Theatre as well as a wide range of community groups including the Sai Pak community, the Conflict Transformation initiative and the CitizensOnline project.
Centre manager Iain Barr said the redevelopment would cement the centres place at the heart of the community.
"With the tenants we have currently the centre has become a hub of activity and we feel the aesthetic look of the building will show people what we have going on," he said.
The redevelopment work, designed by architect George Brennan, will not only increase the size of the centre but will see a new glass frontage added to the Victorian building.
"This will become a landmark building for the whole of the Waterside community," Mr Barr said.
"The work will give us space to run all of our education programmes, with the new dance and drama facilities now designated as a space for education for children, young people and adults."
He said the redevelopment to the Waterside Theatre would also give theatre lovers a "much more pleasurable experience."
"The work is all geared to making your experience much more pleasurable. performers and patrons have always loved the character and atmosphere of the theater but it didn't have the eye catching appeal from the outside."
Mr Barr said the 372 seated refurbished theatre would open in September with an "absolutely jam packed programme."
Further to the redevelopment the theatre is commissioning an artist to create a piece for the interior of the building, with an emphasis on the heritage and culture of the city.
Artists have until July 28 to submit their application to George Brennan, Brennan Associates, 6 Bayview Terrace, Londonderry, BT48 7EE
The full article contains 411 words and appears in Londonderry Sentinel newspaper.
