Chapman Taylor’s industry-leading cinema expertise

Chapman Taylor has designed and delivered many of the world’s largest and most striking cinema projects – from the many world firsts at the Reel Cinemas complex in Dubai Mall to the then-largest cinema complex in the world at Star City in Birmingham. Working for, and with, leading industry names, we have decades of experience in creating state-of-the-art cinema environments which enhance movie-goers’ experience and maximise value and impact for the cinema developers. Here are some of the projects which have put Chapman Taylor at the cutting edge of cinema design.

Cineworld Leicester Square, formerly Empire, is a world-famous cinema in the heart of London’s leading entertainment district. It has hosted many major film premieres and has welcomed leading movie actors, directors, producers and others, including royals. Chapman Taylor’s Leisure team has refurbished the basement cinema to make it a new 136-seat 4DX motion theatre, including high-tech motion seats and special effects including wind, fog, lightning, bubbles, water, rain and scents.

Chapman Taylor also delivered the innovative design by Innebo Architects in Warsaw for the refurbishment of the nine-screen cinema’s lobbies, bringing the highest standards of finishing, including LED screen technologies, providing a fitting welcome for VIPs stepping off the red carpet.

Chapman Taylor’s Madrid studio created a timeless design for Madrid’s Palafox Cinema, which reopened to the public in September 2019 after a two-year refurbishment. The elegant redesign of the 350-seat movie theatre for Yelmo Cines creates a luxury environment which combines the ambience and comfort of the golden age of cinema with state-of-the-art audiovisual technology.

The lobby, bar area and public amenities have been completely modernised while maintaining its historical golden dome, using retro design touches, with a striking motif of black and gold materials blending with high-quality ceramics and glass throughout. Food and drink can be ordered from the bar or from the automatic kiosks in the lobby.

The luxury upgrade of the well-known 1960s landmark also included the provision of large and extra-comfortable leather recliners to host approximately 50 people in each of the seven theatres, with more space between the rows, folding tables, small lamps and buttons for calling waiters to your seat during the trailers if customers want a gin & tonic, hamburger or crêpe.

Cineworld O2 is located in the most popular music and entertainment venue in the UK, and is served by a wide range of restaurants and bars, a large car park and excellent transport links. Chapman Taylor refurbished the 11-screen complex, modernising it cutting-edge standards. A large digital LED screen has been installed in the lobby. Seven more cinemas, including a 4DX theatre and VIP cinemas will be added to the premises by the end of 2018.

Chapman Taylor will provide the extension fit-out and final delivery for the next phase of work at Cineworld O2, which will make it London's largest cinema.

Chapman Taylor acted as Lead Consultant on this ambitious development, designed to be the largest cinema in the UAE, at over 12,000m². The first phase of the flagship 26-screen Reel Cinemas at Dubai Mall adds five theatres, including a Dolby Cinema (the world’s foremost premium large-format cinema), a Platinum VIP Cinema, a Barco Escape Cinema (an immersive cinema format where the movie is projected onto three screens and is exclusive to Reel Cinema in the UAE) and an MX4D motion cinema and dining cinema anchored by leading celebrity chef Guy Fieri. Chapman Taylor provided the architecture, interiors, AOR, structural engineering, MEP, FLS, acoustics and specialist lighting for this cutting-edge Cineplex.

There are also a number of specialist F&B outlets located within the cinema, where you can sit and relax and upload your comments to the enormous Twitter wall in the lobby. The cinema is the world’s first to be fitted in every theatre with RGB laser projectors and Dolby Atmos sound systems, delivering the best possible picture and sound presentation.

The complex also includes the world’s first fully automated online order and pick-up purchasing system within a cinema. Tickets and food can be ordered in the lobby at one of the many swipe screens (or from your smartphone via the app), then retrieved at the pick-up point conveniently located on the way to the theatre. The latest LED and OLED display technologies are used throughout the cinema. An enormous LED screen is positioned in the lobby, with curved LED panels throughout the complex. 

Providing a revolutionary cinematic experience which stimulates all five senses, London's first 4DX cinema includes high-tech motion seats and special effects including wind, fog, lightning, bubbles, water, rain and scents, in both 2D and 3D formats. Cineworld Wandsworth also includes the first large-format cinema ‘Superscreen’ in London, complete with 4K Dual projectors and an immersive sound system from Dolby ATMOS.

Chapman Taylor designed this significant refurbishment, bringing the 15-year-old cinema up-to-date, in line with Cineworld’s current design standards. The 14-screen Cineworld Wandsworth renovation was completed in 2017, providing London with a new and transformative cinematic experience.

This is the UAE’s first dining cinema concept. The development incorporates a US-style restaurant and bar which will be anchored by celebrity chef Guy Fieri. The complex houses four dining cinemas where people can enjoy excellent food while watching their chosen movies.

Chapman Taylor acted as Lead Consultant on this project, designing the architecture, interiors, AOR, structural engineering, MEP, FLS, acoustics and specialist lighting. 

The 49-seat Rove Downtown Hotel cinema will be the first of its kind to open in the UAE, offering the latest global and regional films to both hotel guests and the general public. The stylish yet comfortable décor and seating are colourful and in keeping with the target demographic of this mid-range, hipster-friendly hotel. The cinema will also be a venue for screening other events, including sporting and cultural events.

Rove Hotels is a joint venture between the major development firm, Meraas, and Emaar Entertainment, the owners of Reel Cinemas, which operates the hotel cinema. Chapman Taylor acted as Lead Consultant on this boutique development.

Chapman Taylor’s Dubai and London studios were involved in designing these state-of-the-art cinemas - the first Dolby Cinema in the United Arab Emirates and a Barco Escape Cinema.

Dolby Cinema is a premium offering for moviegoers which combines spectacular image and sound technologies with inspired design to deliver the total cinema experience – making every visit a captivating cinematic journey. Meanwhile, Barco Escape Cinema is a premium offering for moviegoers which presents the movie over three screens, giving a totally immersive experience.  Barco Escape harnesses the power of 3x DCI Barco Series II projectors and Barco Alchemy processing to deliver a compelling new way to experience the cinema. 

Within the new, 419,000m² urban district at Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier, Chapman Taylor is responsible for the design and construction planning for a new multiplex cinema, the interior architecture of the cinema, as well as for the construction planning of the facades of the two buildings.

Each hall entrance has an individual portal design inspired by the variety of shapes and colours of the underwater world, with different lighting and material textures. The entrance portals of the cinemas project diagonally into the foyer area, making the entrances clearly visible and improving customer orientation. The designs and lighting concepts of the individual cinemas also vary and take up the themes of the underwater world.

The Chapman Taylor-designed Muvi Cinema at Mall of Arabia – the largest cinema in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - has opened to moviegoers in Jeddah.

The 15-screen development, one of the first cinema developments to be completed in Saudi Arabia since cinema laws were liberalised, will be the first of a series of Muvi Cinema developments in the country for Arabian Developments.

Located opposite the world-famous Atlantis Hotel, The Pointe is a five-screen boutique cinema complex which uses state-of-the-art technology to provide residents and visitors with an immersive cinematic experience.

A 100-seat restaurant anchored by leading US celebrity chef Guy Fieri provides classic American comfort foods, which can be enjoyed while watching the latest regional and international films.

Phase 1 of the Reel Cinemas, Al Ghurair development delivered eight state-of-the-art cinema theatres with cutting-edge audiovisual technology, as well as an attractive F&B area.

Showing regional, Bollywood and international films, the Reel Cinemas complex is a fitting leisure attraction for the region’s first ever shopping centre, helping to bring a strong sense of experience to the flagship destination.

Chapman Taylor’s cinema portfolio contains many of the most cutting-edge cinemas in the world. Our understanding of what adds value to the customer experience is essential in creating high-quality, efficient and exciting environments for people to enjoy. We strive to design the best cinematic experience available, combining state-of-the-art technology with simplified functionality to create maximum value for both clients and cinema-goers. This is why many of the best-known names in cinema choose to work with us again and again.

For more information, please contact:

David Wallace
Director (London)
dwallace@chapmantaylor.com