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DECEMBER 2017 \ BUILDING DIALOGUE \ 71
A common misconception of theater de-
sign is that architects are given the op-
portunity to create a “dramatic space.” In
reality, however, good theater architecture
creates a supportive enclosure that focuses as much
energy as possible toward the performance that will
inhabit the space. The challenge is to bend all of the
layers of the project toward the goal of serving future
performances as completely as possible, and making it
look simple.
The performance venue itself represents the inter-
section of many competing interests: patron comfort,
technical capability, life safety, sightlines, acoustics and
circulation, to name a few. Balancing all of these prior-
ities in an existing building represented a particular challenge at the
recently completed upgrade of The Space Theatre in the Denver Center
for the Performing Arts’ Bonfils Theatre Complex. The highly anticipated
$9 million renovation, which reopened in September after an extensive
18-month renovation, is a good example of what goes into bringing a
prominent city theater decades into the future.
Renovating the space. As one of the region’s most unique performance
venues, The Space is renowned for its five-sided, intensely intimate, flex-
ible design. Thus, when our firm was asked to oversee the gutting and
rebuilding of the theatre, we approached our role with a balance of pres-
ervation and complete re-thinking of the task at hand.
“The DCPA has been fortunate to work with Semple Brown for over a
decade. The Semple Brown teamundoubtedly has a deep understanding
of modern theatrical design but they also work tirelessly to make sure
that the design serves each and every client need,” said Clay Courter, vice
president and facilities and event services, Denver Center for the Per-
forming Arts.
Preservation included keeping the five-sided shape, the cast-in-place
concrete and the immersive seating configuration. A complete re-think-
ing included a total rearrangement of how the audience enters the the-
atre, and the location of critical support spaces.
“Working on the Space Theatre renovation, it was extremely important
to us that the quality of our spaces mirror the quality of the productions
produced by our Tony-Award winning theatre company for the last 40
years,” said Courter. “Semple Brown had a keen understanding of the
building’s original architectural integrity and worked diligently to en-
sure that the new Space Theatre honored the original architect’s stylistic
intent while also bringing the facility into the 21st century.”
The history. The original theater complex, designed by Kevin Roche
John Dinkeloo and Associates, opened in 1979 as a purpose-built arts cen-
ter for a resident theatre company with two live theater venues, a cinema
Chris Wineman
Principal,
Semple
Brown |
Architects &
Designers