where we've been

The Generator: A Century of Creative Repurposing Since 1921

Origin Story / Stories and Memories / Construction Updates

Building from the ground up

Excellent progress in The Generator's basement. The space has been fully insulated with reflective foil barriers – essential for achieving our net carbon zero energy goal – and work has now progressed to installing the viticulture board cladding. Every layer brings us closer to opening our doors in Spring 2026.

Construction site of an interior room with walls covered in reflective insulation material, exposed electrical wiring and lighting, and construction equipment in the center.
Construction site showing metal stairs, ladder, and wall insulation.
Construction site showing metallic wall panels, staircase, and a ladder in an unfinished interior

Walls taking shape

After much pressure, it's been a Viroc week at The Generator.

Work is continuing at pace as these cement-bonded particle boards transform our walls and stairwell. The material provides excellent acoustic and thermal performance while maintaining the building's industrial character, working beautifully alongside our heritage metalwork stairs. The industrial aesthetic is taking shape- clean lines meeting robust functionality.

Construction site with gray concrete wall, black diamond-plate steel stairs, and scaffolding with red and blue pipes.
Interior of a building under construction with metal stairs, scaffolding, and a large glass window showing street view with people and parked cars.
The image shows an unfinished construction site with a row of metal HVAC ductwork installed along the ceiling and walls. Some wires are hanging from the ducts, and a flashlight is illuminating part of the area. There is a yellow ladder and construction materials on the floor.

New infrastructure, original soul

Your concerns were heard: would we preserve The Generator's character? These images answer that question. Original brickwork, steel trusses, and industrial features remain central to our design. We're adding the infrastructure for a modern cultural venue while respecting the building's 1930s soul.

Construction site with metal beams, wires, and equipment in a partially finished room with large windows.
Construction scaffolding inside a building with exposed brick walls, wooden floors, and some visible ceiling ductwork.
Black countertop with large window panels and exposed brick wall in the background, possibly part of a kitchen or workspace.

From framework to focal point

The bar structure is now in place in the main hall – raw plywood awaiting its final finish. This will be where conversations start, connections are made, and the community gathers. Watch this space transform into The Generator's social hub.

Construction workers building a bar or reception desk in an indoor space with exposed ductwork and scaffolding.
Construction workers installing a black shelving unit behind a bar or countertop in a building under construction.
Construction site with a wooden barrier, metal ladder, tools, and a man working inside an industrial-style building with exposed brick walls and unfinished ceiling.
Interior view showing a metal vent or air duct attached to a metal ceiling, near a large window with a grid pattern, outdoors trees with yellow and green leaves visible.

Sound engineering in progress

Look up- acoustic baffles are going in. These suspended panels might look simple, but they're doing serious work: controlling echoes, managing sound quality, and ensuring every seat in the house gets the best audio experience possible. From intimate gigs to packed performances, the acoustics will be spot on.

Heritage brickwork restored

Original brickwork, features and paint preserved throughout. We've removed only loose or unstable material, revealing nearly a century of authentic patina and history. Our commitment to preservation isn't just words- it's written on these walls.

Interior wall made of weathered red and white bricks with a partially installed black metal beam and a doorway with exposed brick framing.
A worker is operating equipment next to a brick wall with electrical conduits, pipes, and a vent pipe inside a building under construction or renovation.
Interior of a construction site with brick wall, black pipes, electrical conduits, and construction tools and materials, including Styrofoam blocks and a rolling pin.

Foundation for performances

This polished concrete surface represents another major milestone – creating the durable, versatile foundation this multi-use venue demands. From packed gigs to intimate exhibitions, this floor will support it all. The transformation continues.

Under construction interior space with exposed brick and concrete walls, scaffolding, construction tools, and equipment scattered around.
Interior view of a building under construction, with exposed brick, electrical wiring, and workers installing a raised floor with insulation materials and construction tools scattered on the floor.
Construction workers installing large ceramic tiles on a floor in a building under construction, with construction materials and equipment scattered around.

Connecting the levels

New circulation routes are taking shape. This contemporary staircase connects the ground floor to the original mezzanine level, complementing the existing heritage metalwork while providing modern accessibility standards. The contrast between old and new structural elements highlights our approach: respect the past, build for the future.

Interior of a building under construction showing unpainted brick wall, construction materials, and temporary lighting.
Construction site with a partially built staircase, scaffolding, and ladder inside a brick building under renovation.

Connecting the vision

Our new metal staircase installation begins! This sturdy steel structure is being fitted behind the cloakroom area and will provide essential access to our upper floor. Another milestone reached as The Generator's transformation continues to take shape.

The main staircase is critical infrastructure for meeting accessibility requirements and building regulations. The steel construction respects the building's industrial character while providing modern, safe circulation between ground floor and mezzanine. Positioned behind the cloakroom, it integrates into the building's flow without disrupting main hall activities. The staircase unlocks the full two-storey potential of the space, allowing smooth movement during events and enabling us to use both levels simultaneously. Another structural piece of the puzzle falling into place.

An unfinished interior construction site showing a staircase made of metal beams, with tools and construction materials around.
Interior construction site with scaffolding, brick walls, and a large wooden beam supported by a chain hoist.
Construction site with two parallel steel beams, one rusted and one painted, suspended above the ground. A wooden ladder leans against the wall, scaffolding is set up, and chains hang from the beams. The walls are white and brick, with a wooden ceiling.

New level unlocked

Another milestone moment in our renovation as the steel framework & metal flooring are now installed on our new mezzanine! This impressive addition significantly expands our usable space, creating exciting new possibilities:

The new mezzanine provides flexible areas for workshops, creative workspaces, breakout zones during events, and intimate performances. The industrial steel-decked construction respects the building's heritage character while meeting modern standards. From up here, you can appreciate the full scale of the main hall- the exposed brick, original roof trusses, and dramatic volume of the space.Increasing our programming capacity, the mezzanine allows us to host multiple activities simultaneously and creates the versatility a modern cultural venue demands.

Three construction workers wearing orange safety vests and white helmets standing on a metal platform inside a building with exposed brick walls and scaffolding overhead.
Construction site showing steel beams supporting a metal ceiling, with construction equipment including a Bobcat skid steer loader, scaffolding, and ventilation hoses. Brick walls and building materials are visible.
View from a building under construction showing steel beams, scaffolding, and brick walls with exposed brick. Construction materials and tools are visible on the ground.

Connecting the vision

Our new metal staircase installation begins! This sturdy steel structure is being fitted behind the cloakroom area and will provide essential access to our upper floor. Another milestone reached as The Generator's transformation continues to take shape.

The main staircase is critical infrastructure for meeting accessibility requirements and building regulations. The steel construction respects the building's industrial character while providing modern, safe circulation between ground floor and mezzanine. Positioned behind the cloakroom, it integrates into the building's flow without disrupting main hall activities. The staircase unlocks the full two-storey potential of the space, allowing smooth movement during events and enabling us to use both levels simultaneously. Another structural piece of the puzzle falling into place.

An unfinished interior construction site showing a staircase made of metal beams, with tools and construction materials around.
Interior construction site with scaffolding, brick walls, and a large wooden beam supported by a chain hoist.
Construction site with two parallel steel beams, one rusted and one painted, suspended above the ground. A wooden ladder leans against the wall, scaffolding is set up, and chains hang from the beams. The walls are white and brick, with a wooden ceiling.

where we've been

Black and white photograph of a large engine room with labeled vintage engines: a Vickers Petter diesel engine, a Mirrless 6 cylinder diesel engine, a Man 1850 BHP engine from U-boat U135, and a Vulcan 550 BHP engine from U-boat U145. The room has metal pipes and gauges, with a checkered floor and large windows in the background.

generator story

Two women are having a conversation in front of a chalkboard with writing, visible through a CRT television screen.

stories and memories