MH



A collection of architectural works : ranging from the Mississippi Delta to the middle of the ocean...

The central concept guiding the design of this project is separation. This concept was chosen as it is particularly relevant to the nature of a theater, especially a blackbox theater. A theater is typically set apart from the other functions of a building, with the space inside isolated and distinct. Similarly, the viewer of the show or performance is initially separate from the performance, but then becomes fully immersed in it as the performance unfolds.

The theaters in this project are both suspended above the ground, with the small blackbox located on the second floor and the large black box on the fifth floor. This elevation of the theaters forces the public and patrons to walk underneath them and look up, creating a physical separation between the theaters and the public. To access the theaters, patrons must ascend a main stair, weaving in and out of the building's skin and experiencing the mass timber structure as they do so. This creates a journey that immerses the patrons in the experience of the theater before the performance even begins.

As one arrives at the building on the ground level, they must first descend to the first floor, which is subterranean, before entering the lobby. The lobby is a four-story atrium space, with the large blackbox situated within it and an informal practice area available for smaller performances or practices. The design of this journey and the use of the building's skin, composed mostly of glass, allows the building to glow at night, revealing the blackboxes within from an exterior view. This creates an overall aesthetic that immerses the patrons in the experience of the theater and adds to the overall aesthetic of the building.



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