American Community School Abu Dhabi – Theatre, Studio and AV Consultancy
Specialist Theatre and Studio Design for a New International School Campus in the UAE
The American Community School of Abu Dhabi (ACS Abu Dhabi) is an established international school in the United Arab Emirates, providing education to approximately 1,200 students.
The school developed a new, technologically advanced campus on Saadiyat Island, incorporating a comprehensive range of educational, performing arts and media production facilities.
Drama by Design provided specialist theatre and studio design consultancy for the new development, working with the project team, including architects AECOM, on the design and integration of the specialist performance and production facilities.
The project included a new 650-seat theatre auditorium, a large drama hall and black box studio theatre, two smaller drama studios, a television studio and a drama classroom.
650-Seat Theatre and Auditorium Design
The centrepiece of the school’s performing arts provision is a 650-seat professional theatre, designed to accommodate student performances, musical productions, presentations and large community gatherings.
The auditorium incorporates a comprehensive range of professional theatre and audio visual systems, providing the flexibility required for both educational activities and larger productions.
The stage lighting infrastructure includes fixed lighting bars above the stage and a technical gantry over the auditorium, providing positions for lighting equipment and access for technical operations.
The stage lighting installation uses energy-efficient LED luminaires, controlled through a computerised lighting console. The console can be operated from either the theatre control room or within the auditorium, providing flexibility for different production and teaching arrangements.
Professional Sound, Projection and Assisted Listening
The theatre incorporates a comprehensive sound reinforcement and audio visual system to support live performances, presentations and other school activities.
Professional loudspeakers, digital signal processing and a digital audio mixing console provide the sound reinforcement and control required for different types of events.
A large projection screen and projector enable the auditorium to accommodate presentations, video content and productions incorporating projected imagery.
The system includes audio visual connection points around the auditorium, together with a touchscreen control panel for straightforward operation of presentation systems.
An induction loop assisted listening system is also provided, improving accessibility for audience members with compatible hearing aids.
Drama Studios and Black Box Theatre Facilities
In addition to the main auditorium, the new campus incorporates a large drama hall and black box studio theatre, two smaller drama studios and a dedicated drama classroom.
These spaces provide flexible environments for drama teaching, rehearsal, performance and other creative activities.
The drama facilities incorporate internally wired stage lighting grids, LED luminaires and computerised lighting control systems. Digitally controlled sound systems and curtain tracks allow the spaces to be adapted to suit different teaching and performance requirements.
The specialist technical infrastructure provides opportunities for students to gain practical experience of theatrical production, including lighting, sound and stage management, alongside performance-based activities.
Television Studio and Media Production Facilities
The school’s dedicated television studio provides facilities for media production and practical teaching.
The studio incorporates a production lighting system mounted on overhead rails, together with cameras, audio equipment and video recording systems.
The technical installation enables students to develop practical experience of television and digital media production within a purpose-designed studio environment.
The integration of these specialist facilities within the wider school campus supports a broad range of creative and technical educational activities.
Specialist Design and Project Delivery
Drama by Design’s involvement formed part of the wider development of the new school campus, with specialist theatre, studio and audio visual requirements coordinated alongside the architectural and building design.
The project demonstrates the importance of incorporating technical production requirements into educational developments at an early stage, particularly where professional theatre systems, specialist lighting infrastructure and television production facilities must be accommodated within a single building.
Design work commenced in March 2018, with the project completed in March 2024.
The completed campus provides the American Community School of Abu Dhabi with a comprehensive range of professional-standard performing arts and media production facilities, supporting both the school’s educational programme and its wider community activities.
The project demonstrates Drama by Design’s experience in providing independent theatre consultancy, auditorium design, educational studio design and specialist AV consultancy in Abu Dhabi and throughout the UAE.
For more information about our services, visit our Theatre Consultancy, Studio Consultancy and Audio Visual Consultancy pages.
