The relationships on this project were also unique, in that Gerald Epp was Structural Engineer of Record for the entire Arena Stage Theatre project, and also subcontractor (through StructureCraft) for the facade structure. The 50- 60 foot high columns not only support the suspended array of Parallam glazing members, but also a 500 foot long steel roof structure with 90 foot cantilever. Each of the 18 massive elliptically-turned Parallam columns are tipped with a custom shaped 350 lb casting and tilted at 4 degrees from vertical. This custom timber structure supports a 650 foot long curved cable-suspended glazed façade. Wood was very cost effective in all three respects." And, it provided the final finish for the space. We used it to hold up the roof we also used it to hold up the glass. With a special focus on community engagement and innovation in the arts, Arena Stage, founded on August 16, 1950, by Zelda Fichandler, Tom Fichandler and. Yet in the end, wood ended up doing triple duty. “We didn't have money for finishes, so the structure had to be beautiful, and wood made perfect sense. “Like most arts projects, especially non-profits like Arena Stage, budget was very tight," said Michael Heeney, principal and executive director for Bing Thom Architects of Vancouver, BC. to use an efficient hybrid wood and glass enclosure to envelop two existing structures.Īlthough the timber-backed glass façade supporting a steel roof was a complex design, the decision to use wood was an easy one. It was also the first project in the U.S. When Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater reopened in 2010, it was the first modern structure to use heavy timber components in the United States' capital. 22.In the sea of concrete and granite that people have come to expect from buildings in Washington, D.C., a new structure showcasing wood stands out. Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith announces the D.C.-based pioneering theater companys 60th season filled with award-winning artists and projects. The new theater opened with a production of “Oklahoma!” because Smith wanted the song “Oh, It’s a Beautiful Morning,” a song about a brand new beginning, to be the first musical performance in the building, Bauman said. As a result, the renovation coincidentally marks the sixtieth anniversary of the theater. The project, initially expected to be completed prior to the 2007-2008 season, was finished three years later than expected. “There’s a lot more space so there are many new opportunities to perform new shows.” “It looks really pretty from the outside,” said junior Katie Myers, a frequent visitor to the theater. The glass that decorates the outside of the theater allows passersby to observe what is going on inside the theater, such as preparations for the shows. The glass is both aesthetic and functional. The architect accomplished this by keeping the original structure and surrounding it with an outer shell of glass. Bing Thom wanted to preserve the building’s history during renovation while still improving the acoustics. The Fichandler Stage is the most famous old space in the Arena, Brown said. “You could hear all of that in the theaters, and it was hard to hear an actor when an airplane would fly over.” “There was nowhere near as much traffic and air traffic as there is now,” Bauman said. While the renovation increased the size of the building, it also decreased the amount of street noise entering the Fichandler Stage, the primary performance space in the building. Because of the Meads’ generosity, the theater was able to proceed with the renovation. We tried to do something that was very different.”Īlong with the renovation, the theater was renamed “Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater” in honor of philanthropists Jaylee and Gilbert Mead. “It’s open, has curvatures and uses rough edges like raw steel and concrete. “It’s unlike anything in Washington,” said James Brown, a director at Bing Thom Architects. Bing Thom seemed to have a clear vision for the building. Ten years ago, Molly Smith, the artistic director for the pavillion, decided the building needed a significant upgrade and picked Bing Thom Architects for the job since his request for Arena’s mission statement impressed Smith, said Chad Bauman, director of communications for Arena Stage. One of the first nonprofit theaters in the country, Arena Stage has a long, successful history in theater. The original Arena Stage opened in 1950 as a venue for local theatrical performances. Photo courtesy of Nic Lehoux.Surrounded by fish markets and run-down buildings, the newly renovated and reopened Arena Stage brings a more modern feel to the D.C. The $135 million renovation included adding one new theater to the two existing ones.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |