Powells was appointed as principal contractor to transform the unfinished shell of a former multiplex cinema beneath Marble Arch into Frameless, the UK’s largest digital immersive art experience. The 3,300 sqm venue now houses five cutting-edge auditoriums, a mezzanine administration level, and public amenities including a bar, restaurant, gift shop, and conference facilities.

Key elements of the project included:

• Lowering a 770m² concrete floor slab by over a metre using an innovative cube-cutting method – a world-first technique to avoid road closures and minimise disruption

• Structural alterations to the original cinema layout, including new mezzanine construction and escalator installations

• Integration of complex audio-visual infrastructure, including:

  • Over 50 high-output projectors

  • State-of-the-art soundproofed auditoriums

  • Mirror floors and ceilings with hidden projection rooms

• Advanced environmental systems to manage heat, ventilation, fire suppression, and air conditioning within the basement location

• Premium finishes to support the immersive experience: backlit polycarbonate walls, geometric Skandia board, LED features, 2,300 hand-positioned fibreoptic ceiling lights, and custom mirror installations