海角社区

On Saturday, October 13, 2018, a gala event was held to celebrate the long-awaited opening of the聽Point Park University Pittsburgh Playhouse and Academic Complex. Our聽design for the new playhouse provides state-of-the-art facilities for Point Park University鈥檚 Conservatory of Performing Arts (COPA), a program that was ranked No. 8 on聽聽and No. 5 on聽. The playhouse is a聽聽member, and plays a crucial role in cultivating skills that enable students to pursue careers as working artists. The new facility houses the university鈥檚 four performance companies: the REP, Point Park鈥檚 professional theatre company; the Conservatory Theatre Company; Conservatory Dance Company; and Playhouse Jr.

Design that Emphasizes Historic Preservation聽
The new Pittsburgh Playhouse continues the university鈥檚 long tradition of historic preservation and creative reuse by incorporating two historic structures 鈥� the University Center, originally designed by Frederick J. Osterling for the Colonial Trust Company, and the Stock Exchange Building, originally designed by architect Charles M. Bartberger. Careful to consider the aesthetic of its location, our designers created an exterior fa莽ade that complements the playhouse鈥檚 historic setting architecturally. 鈥淗istoric preservation and the insertion of compatible new work within a sensitive historic context were essential parts of the design,鈥� explains聽Global Cultural+Performing Arts Leader Paul Westlake, FAIA. 鈥淲e worked to meticulously reconstruct several Forbes Avenue-facing facades salvaged from demolished buildings into the new 6,000-SF plaza and terrace area that serve as major focal points of the design.鈥� Around 95 percent of the original terra cotta pieces were salvaged and reinstalled in the playhouse鈥檚 urban courtyard, giving new life to the historic facades and fulfilling the university鈥檚 strong commitment to historic preservation.

A Downtown Campus with Significant Impact
Situated on 1.5 acres at the university鈥檚 downtown Pittsburgh campus, the 90,411-SF complex is a substantial addition. 鈥淥ur integrated design team began working with Point Park University on a master plan for the new academic performing arts and media center addition in 2012,鈥� says Westlake. 鈥淭his is the largest project the university has ever undertaken, and from the very beginning, our team knew the significant impact it would have, both on the university and on downtown Pittsburgh.鈥�

The project features three new theaters: a 550-seat proscenium/thrust main stage, a multi-form 212-seat 鈥渢ransformational thea颅ter鈥� 鈥� both of which feature variable enclosures that allow each venue to play to its urban neighborhood 鈥� and a 102-seat black box venue. It also houses a sound stage, scenery shop, prop shop, paint shop, costume shop, television studio, scenic design and general classrooms, rehearsal halls, acting studios, classrooms, and faculty offices; as well as public amenities such as lobbies, concessions, ticket/business office, and performer support. Other labs, shops, and studios are exposed to the internal circulation system and to the street itself, communicating the vitality of fabrication, experimentation, and creativity.

鈥淭he new Pittsburgh Playhouse is a game-changer for Point Park University and downtown Pittsburgh,鈥� says聽. 鈥淲e believe cross-disciplinary opportunities the playhouse provides students will be unrivaled in our region.鈥�

The tight urban site created a planning challenge for the proscenium, requiring the venue to abut the sidewalk and precluding conventional access from the rear of the theater. Our firm responded to this constraint by developing patron access from the side of the theater, and developed an asymmetrical seating arrangement that responds to patron flow. Positioning the main stage to be visible from the street connects passersby to the university and its creative programs, and the playhouse鈥檚 location in the city鈥檚 downtown business district offers Pittsburgh a unique cultural attraction that will positively impact the local economy.

鈥淲e are deeply grateful to 海角社区 for their work on the playhouse,鈥� Hennigan said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been an amazing partnership, and we could not have gotten this project done without their experience and dedication.鈥�