Theatre Consulting Lighting Design
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Case Study
University of Mount Union, Giese Center for the Arts
Alliance, Ohio
Renovation and Theatre Replacement
Design Services Provided:
Theatre planning
Theatrical systems
Architectural lighting
Excellent sight lines Systems to support pedagogy
Robust infrastructure Sustainable high quality lighting
Key Solutions:
Architect/Engineer: Westlake Reed Leskosky
Completion: 2015
A highly anticipated renovation of the theatre and music performance facility at University of Mount Union resulted in the replacement of the aging Rodman Auditorium with a new proscenium theatre, coupled with a courtyard infill to create a new black box theatre and choral rehearsal room. The new Giese Center for the Arts provides an improved audience relationship with the performers, increased capacity, acoustically appropriate treatments, and state of the art performance systems.
The new black box allows studio productions to occur without tying up valuable calendar time on the mainstage. The addition of a dedicated choir room provides similar benefits to the Music program, where instrument and voice users were competing for ensemble rehearsal space. Both spaces can be programmed for classroom and rehearsal use, with the black box also used for public performances and special events.
A new scene shop and new costume shop provide welcome relief to the stage wing areas that previously housed these critical support functions. A dedicated stage acoustical shell system quickly converts the main theatre into an excellent music performance hall that can accommodate the combined UMU symphony and choir.
Stage rigging consists of counterweight linesets on the stage and pipe grid in the black box. Stage lighting controls reside on an Ethernet backbone and are integrated with building lighting controls for reduced system cost and increased flexibility. The pit filler and black box platforms provide flexibility for various stage and seating configurations.
Design services performed while with another firm.