The Works #222764

The auditorium of this cinema has a diameter of 99 feet with a floor above containing offices. These are arranged around a circular opening 65 feet in diameter covered by a glass roof which can be opened. The stability of the structure is achieved by a system of diagonal roof trusses (which form part of the dividing walls between the offices) and two circular slabs, the lower of which is in tension and forms the ceiling of the auditorium whereas the upper one is in compression and forms the ceiling to the offices. The gallery spans without intermediate supports by using four parallel trussed rein forced concrete beams with nine radial cantilevered beams projecting into the audi torium.