‘Aan de Slinger’ Theatre (Houten – The Netherlands)

In September 2008, the Dutch Minister for Education, Culture and Science opened the new ‘Aan de Slinger’ Theatre in Houten, a multifunctional building that offers space for both cultural events and educational activities. The auditorium and music rooms are used by the theatre company itself and by the nearby Heemlanden comprehensive school and a local music school. The auditorium can seat 280 people and can be converted to accommodate conferences, presentations, seminars, film showings, ballet performances, concerts etc. If necessary, the extendible stand can offer space for up to 480 people.

For the entrances to and escape routes from the auditorium, Merford supplied sound-insulating doors and sound-insulating escape doors, some of which were installed in a tandem arrangement. The latter was necessary not so much to reduce noise nuisance outside of the building, but rather to prevent noise from the adjacent railway from penetrating into the theatre. This is also why the auditorium rests on a construction including 1600 springs that helps to prevent vibrations or noise produced by passing trains from entering it.