Theatre Design & Technology - Spring 1975 - 11

the side lobbies and on to the seating area. A very
large storage area (over 1,000 sq. ft.) and two small
storage areas are located in close proximity to the
side lobbies.
Good seating provisions are reserved for handicapped people in a section near the entrance lobby
and well forward of the middle rank of seating rows.

REGIONAL ARTS CENTER -

CENTRE COLLEGE

The Taliesin group's most recently completed
performing arts project is located at Centre College
in Danville, Kentucky; it was formally opened in
September of 1973. A handsome, strongly designed
building of contemporary style, it is set among
traditional Greek revival campus buildings dating
back to the early 19th century. Further contrast
between appearance and intent is involved in the
location of the large capacity Concert Hall in the
small college, small town environment of Danville.
But its function in service of the Centre College arts
program is but the base on which the larger purpose
of regional cultural enrichment has been secured.
The building combines two very different performing
arts facilities, together with art and music studios,
classrooms and galleries, workshops, laboratories,
office spaces, and a fine broad range of audience
accommodation facilities. The audience, upon approaching the building (Figure 7) is impressed by a
bold horizontal sweep of roof, balcony terrace and
windows balanced and, at the same time,
emphasized by large deeply dimensional walls

shaped of dark brick. The masculine simplicity of the
exterior opens to a vivid range of aud ience area
colors: gold, orange and muted purple - a flamboyant combination of rich effect, all given added visual
prominence by the varied textures, angles, and
massing of interior surfaces and shapes. Eloquently
chandelier-lighted stairs and bold ramps connect
lower and upper lobby areas, giving fine vistas of
multi-level spaces and broad, long views of galleries
and people (See Front Cover).
The goal of an exemplary integration of the fine
arts, music, and theatre into a flexibly efficient
environment of shared purpose and constant learn ing
potential guided the planners in the development of
this center. The Concert Hall, largest of its two
performing arts facilities, was designed to accommodate legitimate theatre, musical comedy, dance, and
opera, as well as orchestral and choral concerts. The
major use of this facility will involve performances
given by touring professional companies. Its orchestra pit is of a size sufficient to accommodate 70
musicians, with the further possibility of additional
concert performance space on stage within the
integral acoustic shell enclosures. Recessed into the
rear wall of the stage is a large three-manual pipe
organ of classic tonal design; sufficiently versatile to
meet the demands of romantic and modern music
Iiterature as well (See Back Cover).
The Concert Hall has a full seating capacity of
1,483 but can be reduced to smaller size by various
means (Figure 13). An acoustical transverse curtain

Figure 7. Regional Arts Center, Centre College. Exterior front view from the West.

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THEATRE DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY

SPRING. 1975

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