READING’S Hexagon Theatre was partially built using RAAC concrete, but it remains fully open following an inspection.
The town centre venue was built in the 1970s and, at the time, RACC (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete) was a widely material, as it is cheaper and more lightweight than traditional concrete.
It carries with it a risk of earlier deterioration, which is why the Department for Education ordered schools and local authorities to identify concrete structures made with the material that present a risk of crumbling.
As part of its checks, Reading Borough Council confirmed that RAAC was used to build the six-sided venue that was the home of snooker in the 1980s.
A spokesperson said: “The use of RAAC panels in the construction of the Hexagon Theatre is foreseeable given the period in which it was built, when they were widely used in the construction industry.
“We would reassure residents and visitors that both visual and geometric testing has already taken place on accessible panels by expert structural engineers, who have advised the Council there is no reason why the Hexagon should not remain fully operational.
“These inspections, initiated in September 2022, pre-date the recent news coverage of RAAC and were undertaken as part of the council’s routine maintenance regime of all its buildings.
“Some precautionary mitigations in backstage areas are in place which have minimal implications for theatre operations, and these are being managed.
Further inspections will continue over the autumn and the Council will take advice from structural engineers if any further actions are required.
The Hexagon is due to undergo a substantial upgrade after the council successfully received £13.7 million of government Levelling Up funding.
The project involves extending the Queens Walk venue to create the ‘HexBox’ which will provide new space for performances and community uses once complete.
The council spokesperson said: “As part of the Council’s plans to extend the existing theatre by adding a new Studio Theatre at the Hexagon, a section of the backstage area would additionally be replaced during the construction phase.”
