TYPE:

Educational / Theater

SIZE:

150,000 SF

DESCRIPTION:

This project included the design of a new theater department. Spatial requirements included a traditional theater, black box theater, fly, control box, parking, back of stage, classrooms, and entry hall. My approach began with  examining how the new building could be more to the school by using its exterior facade to interact with the student community. This developed into an electronic video screen that would attach to the skin and allow students to watch video performances on the main campus green space. Additionally, I took lessons learned from the Wyly Theater in Dallas designed by REX and OMA, and included walls that removed and a ceiling that retracted to allow for performances of Shakespeare to actually be performed under the stars. Additional campus parking would be accommodated by installing an underground carpark beneath  the existing green. This move would preserve Drury’s green campus feeling.