Building committee tours

[BillConnerFASTC]

I just came back from a long day of touring high school auditoriums and stage with a group from a school planning to build a performing arts addition. School board members, administrators, faculty, architects and theatre consultant. Schedule prevented the acoustic consultant from attending.

I can't stress enough how valuable this is. Besides a lot of presentation and talk about chairs and finishes, there is the opportunity for everyone to learn about some systems. Orchestra pits was a big topic, and when they saw one I had designed with tensioned wire grid and removable honeycomb decks on it, and we studied difference between pits entered through the house vs understage. They know what they like and understand the differences, and will be able to make better decisions when the time comes. We ran some counterweight and tipped a shell ceiling. It was great. We asked the users at each theatre for insight and I asked about staff - who runs the theatre. The first two had a staff person - no teaching and full tine. One had a few duties outside the theatre. The third one - opened last October - had just made the decision - realized - that they had to hire someone.

But the best part is you spend a day with a group of people riding around rural areas in a van together and you build a lot of understanding and trust, that will make the discussion and decision making that is to come much more constructive and efficient.

Highly recommended part of the process.

 

[lwinters630]

Your point on who will run and maintain the new center needs to be emphasized. I have been in many venues that were out right dangerous due to lack of oversight.

 

[TheaterEd]

Might I also add that having the person who is going to run and maintain the center be a part of this process would be Amazing. It's rough being thrown the keys and told good luck. Twice now I have been hired two weeks before opening. It is a steep learning curve to say the least.

 

[BillConnerFASTC]

Might I also add that having the person who is going to run and maintain the center be a part of this process would be Amazing. It's rough being thrown the keys and told good luck. Twice now I have been hired two weeks before opening. It is a steep learning curve to say the least.

It is of course a

Might I also add that having the person who is going to run and maintain the center be a part of this process would be Amazing. It's rough being thrown the keys and told good luck. Twice now I have been hired two weeks before opening. It is a steep learning curve to say the least.

It is of course a very good and well reasoned concept, but generally the owner - a public school represented by board members, administrators, faculty, and/or staff - anyone of those or any combination - just won't accept that. Plus, not anxious to add payroll nor a voice likely to ask for more. Tough situation and more than likely hiring is after or well after completion, which is when its apparent they need a specialist.

 

[TheaterEd]

Tough situation and more than likely hiring is after or well after completion, which is when its apparent they need a specialist.

Agreed.

 

[Thomas Johnston]

Having an actual theatre technician or designer come and give insight on the design is crucial. We have a wire tension grid but 60% of it is useless because of how the lighting pipes are the lights just hit big steel beams that support it. Non dim able lights and dmx patch panles in the weirdest places but not in the obvious. Entering the pit form under stage is so important. Especially if elementary school students will be using it. I assume you have some experience Bill. This is just a note for others.

 

[ScottT]

I just came back from a long day of touring high school auditoriums and stage with a group from a school planning to build a performing arts addition. School board members, administrators, faculty, architects and theatre consultant. Schedule prevented the acoustic consultant from attending.

That's awesome.

I worked at a new Arts Center (around $100 million) and we had consultants, end users, and lots of people from other projects come through during construction and after opening. It was great to be able to say "we like this so far" or "we're not entirely sure how this is going to work" or "this is amazing". Having moved on from that position, I'd love to go back and hear what the thoughts are now!


The thing that made people the most jealous was the 3 truck covered loading dock. Amazing choice.

 

[BillConnerFASTC]

I sometimes think about loading access first, or wheel chair accommodations, when starting a first sketch. One or the other it seems. The amount of time wasted and the cost of solutions when these are left to last is amazing.