Behind the Scenes at the Roxy #2 - Introducing David Shutte
Published on 04 July 2022
What do the UK’s famed, heritage listed Courtauld Gallery and the award-winning Tate St Ives have in common with the redevelopment of the Roxy Theatre?
Answer: Leeton bred structural engineer, David Shutte.
David Shutte, 33, is a partner at Peter Kennard Consulting in Wagga Wagga which will soon be renamed Shutte & Kennard Consulting Engineers.
David is the consulting engineer to the Lloyd Group – the builders at the Roxy.
David is the son of well-known Leeton locals, John and Tina Shutte, the owners of Leeton Communications (LCOM).
After working on the multi-million-pound redevelopments of the heritage listed Courtauld Gallery and the Tate Gallery in St Ives, David returned to the Riverina in 2018. He is now utilising his specialist skills at the Roxy.
David’s other local projects have included Leeton’s new Showground Grandstand and the Walnuts Australia processing plant on Colinroobie Rd.
‘I was bought up in Leeton, went to school at St Francis College and remember being on the Roxy Stage. I know how important the Roxy is to the town and I want my little cousins to continue to be able to go to the movies and top class shows in Leeton and not have to travel out of town,’ David said.
David’s main role in the Roxy project has been providing structural advice to the builder, Lloyd Group, to ensure buildability.
‘My main focus to date has been advising on the temporary works needed during demolition stages to ensure key heritage elements are safely preserved and supported during the redevelopment,’ he said.
David commented further by saying ‘The Lloyd Group site managers have been excellent to work with, along with the Design Team led by Williams Boag Architechts.’
David said the aim was to retain the Roxy’s unique heritage features but also provide a contemporary theatre with all the comforts and technology that patrons and performers deserve.
‘Like everyone who knows and loves the Roxy, I want the refurbished Roxy to be the best it can be for generations to come,’ he said.