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Ideal Theater 2009 Competition

Ideal: Theater 2009

Sponsors: Serapid, Boldt Construction and HGA Architects and Engineers
Type: Open, international, ideas, two-stage
Eligibility: Open to any registered architecture and theater student (team) enrolled at an accredited college or university.
Awards:
Each of three finalists will receive:
• Cash award of $1,000
• Team travel assistance of $500 to USITT Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio
• Cost of Conference registration for two team members covered
• Additional cash prize of $500 for winner

Timetable:
17 November 2008 – Submit intention to compete by email
– End Question and Answer period
15 January 2009 – Submission deadline
19-21 March 2009 – Final presentation and exhibition at USITT Conference
Jury:
• Architect: John Prokos, FAIA Gund Partnership, Cambridge, MA
• Acoustician: Mark Holden, JaffeHolden Norwalk, CT
• Theatre Consultant: Benton Delinger, Theatre Projects Theatre Consultants, South Norwalk, CT
Design Challenge:
The Architectural and Theatre Students “Ideal Theatre” Design Competition requires teamwork. The competition poses the design question, “What is the Ideal Theatre for teaching professional theatre”? This question is to be explored and answered by a “Team” composed of at least one theatre student currently enrolled in a college or university theatre program and one architectural student enrolled in an accredited architectural college or university program.Teams can be part of a class or be independent students.
Each team member has a defined responsibility. The theatre students will act as the “Client” and the architectural
students as the “Designer”. The “Client” is responsible to teach the “Designer” about the workings and artistry of Theatre! The “Client” will define the detail needs of the theater complex and provide at least one critique of the design produced by the “Designer.” It is desired that the “Client” will remain an active member of the design process. The design solution MUST be the result of a “Conversation” between the “Client” and “Designer”. History proves the most successful theatre design solutions take into account all aspects and needs of theatre production, artist presentation and audience interaction.
The Problem Statement
Your College has been given a gift of $25 million to construct a new Center for the Performing Arts. The new Center must reflect your department’s educational goals and the technological needs for your area of theatre specialty. The audience chamber can be between 400 to 600 seats. The intimacy of the live performance must be
expressed and the layout is to be defined by your University’s performance specialty. Additional front and back of house must be defined by the “Client” to meet the department needs. The Center will be a free standing building on your college campus.
The Art Center Spaces
The program detail, areas, stage type and audience arrangement must be developed by the “Client” to reflect their department needs. The “Client” is to provide a written statement describing their University’s Theatre Department’s educational goals and needs of the teaching program. This can be made up or patterned after a real program.
For information, go to:
Website: www.usitt.org (ref: student architecture awards)
Email: sgeorgeson@hga.com
Submissions should be sent to:
USITT Competition:
Scott F. Georgeson, AIA,
HGA Architects, 333 East Erie Street,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53202
414.278.8200