Riverside Studios

In 1933, the Triumph Film Company moved into what is now Riverside Studios on the Thames just south of Hammersmith Bridge. The two-storey rectangular brick building was formerly a late-Victorian foundry with a tower chimney. In 1954, the studios were acquired by the BBC for its television service. The facility was in continuous use until 1975 when the BBC moved out and a charitable trust formed by Hammersmith and Fulham Council took control of the building. Architect Michael Reardon shaped large multi-purpose spaces from the two main sound stages. These were used for live theatre, music, dance and film. A functional foyer area with exposed industrial-style trunking and pipework was created as an always-open meeting point. A cinema opened in 1987. In 1994 the complex was refurbished and modernised by Burrel Foley Fisher to form the 500-seat Studio One, the 400-seat Studio Two and a 156-seat Studio Three. All were receiving studios, and available for hire for film, TV, performance, rehearsal and general use. Riverside Studios closed in 2014 and the building demolished. A new Riverside Studios complex is being developed and completed by autumn 2017. It will have much improved facilities including three studios, a 200 seat cinema and a screening room, a community and rehearsal area with a greatly enhanced local events space.