Material, Acoustical, Structural Discussion

Materials...I suppose the seat is important since there are so many of them....
Seat Frame: Steel

Chair Arms: Wood/Upholstered
Chair Backs: Wood/Upholstered
Chair Seats: Wood/Upholstered

(Apparently upholstered seats go a long way acoustically)

Typical Flooring (Audience): Carpet, joy.
Typical Flooring (Stage): This one is tricky, the stage is both inside and out. Perhaps it could be changed based on the type of performance. Durable wood surfaces, potentially weather proof.

Walls, Ceiling, and other Acoustical surfaces: Combination of fixed acoustical panels and the hyposurface for adjustability during performances. I don't know how it would work but if the hyposurfaces could respond to sound in an appropriate way to improve the acoustics of the "auditorium" it would be pretty amazing (see the video).

The books I've read have recommended that the auditorium's structural envelope be of concrete masonry construction due to the fact that it performs much better with vibration and sound (as opposed to open web steel joists). I think I need to use both since the span and height of the auditorium are fairly ridiculous (75' total height, 200' at its longest span) the upper portion of 15'-20' being devoted to structure, catwalks, mechanical, electrical, lighting, etc).
Its still not as crazy as the first one I designed as a 2nd year, I like to think I've come a long way since then.

Unfortunately I'm not quite sure what to say here. I'm no architect or engineer. I'd like to be both some day. I find that someone always asks the question or says something along the lines of "I'm not sure if you can do that." Really? I didn't know you were a professional engineer [insert name of guilty party, usually a student or professor trying to give you a hard time]. I'm tired of people telling me the buildings I design are impossible to build. Some day...some day....

A nod to Eric Owen Moss and Bryan Healy

After comparing seating arrangement types, the type of stage I have and running square footage calculations, the potential capacity stands between 2200-2500 people max, on the inside (15,000 square feet @ 41 seats per 256 square feet, comfortably). The outside is much smaller and similar to the traditional amphitheater used by the Greeks. It still runs about 6,500 square feet but for the sake of calculations, if it were to use the same seating style as inside, the capacity would be around 1040. Clearly there aren't seats, only terraced concrete seats/steps. The ends of the amphitheater meet with the grass and the grade falls down towards the edges of the site. Every part of the auditorium, both inside and out, is completely handicap accessible.

Did I mention it opens up?

Holla Auditorium.

As you can see, I still have to model the inside if I want to use this perspective. I suppose I could photomontage everything...so many decisions to make, so little time....

****UPDATE****2009.05.03*****

I wasn't sure if the calculations I used above included circulation. After actually adding egress and aisle circulation I took another look at the available space for seating. The capacity came out to 1,582 people. If the calculations take into an average amount of space for circulation then the capacity of 2200-2500 is correct. If they don't, then 1,582 is the magic number (780 on the main floor, 468 on the 2nd level, 334 on the 3rd level). 

Photomontage

A stage!

Of course Zaha Hadid has already done the crazy moving stage circa 2002.






This is an example of what the lifts look like underneath a stage.
Aircraft carrier elevator and bay door? Perfect precedent research.

Hadid Performing Arts Center

I don't know what else to say again. Her work just speaks to me more than the boxes that most humans create.

Dynamic Architecture

This one isn't so new to us, we've seen and heard of it before: the tower in Dubai that moves, as demonstrated in the video below.

Mechanical Elephant!

Freakin' awesome!

http://www.lesmachines-nantes.fr/english/index.html

Hyposurface wall!

http://www.hyposurface.org/

Not exactly what I had in mind but the fact that electronically controlled pistons can manipulate the surface of this wall is pertinent to my precedent research. I think theater and auditorium designers would love to have the ability to manipulate the surfaces along the ceiling, floors, and walls to accommodate for a specific type of performance. Maybe one could even use the technology to create openings in the envelope in the building, synergy-zing the interior and exterior environments, creating a whole new space for performances and lectures.

St. David's Hall, Cardiff

St. David's Hall is another example of the overlapping, odd angled audience seating. As shown in the plans, the stage and audience areas are the center mass while circulation via stairs and elevators are aplenty on the edge of this mass, both for audience members, stage hands and staff, and performers.

Plan at stage level

Plan at balcony level
Longitudinal Section (acoustic boundary of the hall is the roof, below that is an acoustically transparent ceiling)

Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington, UK

As with the Symphony Garden example I posted a while back, this hall is smaller than most of the ones I've come across in the books I checked out of the library. If anything, I've been able to find precedents of smaller performance halls in gigantic "Performing Arts Centers" that have several stages varying in seating capacity, type of stage, and primary use (drama, opera, orchestral, etc). After chatting with T-RAV a bit, I feel a bit better about my approach to the design of the "auditorium" building. The main program areas I need to consider are: stage, audience, circulation (public/private), performance service both above the audience seating and below the stage. I'm contemplating a single stage, arena style, that will be at the center of the building. Buffer areas will serve their purpose while also providing access to the various seating tiers from surrounding circulation paths.  There will also be a secondary, smaller outdoor amphitheater. This will involve part of the building actually moving. Whether or not the outdoor performance theater becomes an extension of the indoor theater has yet to be determined. It should be an exciting project....

Christchurch Town Hall, Wellington, UK

While initially chosen for its acoustical response above the seating areas, the baffles actually serve as a visual wall for the service catwalks above. 

Ground Level

Gallery Level
Cross Section
Longitudinal Section

Orange County Performing Arts Center Theater, Costa Mesa, California

This theater was chosen particularly as a precedent for tiered seating. The angles and height differentials speak to the "architecture" (ha) of the building.

Arena Theater, International Garden Festival, Liverpool, UK

I think everyone knows I'm a fan of architectural membranes and pavilions so it is no surprise I liked what was done with this traditional amphitheater...

Plan

Section

3-D Modeling Extravaganza

I'd thought I'd try my hand at modeling the whole building in one night. It isn't perfect, but it is definately something that can be used for CAD as far as plans and sections are concerned. The auditorium and train overpass connector are more developed in this model then the rest of the building (its my job).

Roof Plan

Ground Level
Front

Front again

Back

Back

Back