The Storyhouse, Chester

WF Education were delighted to be the main FF&E Consultants for Chester’s £37m Storyhouse poly-use cultural centre, designed by Ellis Williams, project architects and Bennett Associates. The project repurposed the former Art Deco cinema to create an exciting new communal space and revitalise the city.

Over two years of design and planning they consulted and worked alongside all stakeholders on this project which highlights their capabilities in designing and delivering landmark projects for all types of public space buildings.

WF Education were involved in every area of this new space, from dressing rooms to kitchens, art deco styled shelving, furnishings, to zinc topped bars. They also designed, manufactured, and installed the classic look, plywood-stained cladding that is used throughout the building from lift shafts to bars and envelopes all the library shelving.

The dark stained wood has both intimacy and dramatic appeal creating and warm and welcoming environment. It shows WF Educations’ capabilities to design and manufacture bespoke areas which are far removed from an off the shelf design solution. Our creative space planning weaves the library shelving throughout the building and is planned to create zones and hubs as well as act as a backdrop to social areas. An upstairs reading room provides a quieter area for reading and study, while a meeting room is available for community events.

“An inspirational place to make, share and tell great stories, the new Storyhouse library is not your usual library.”