Theatre Design & Technology - Winter 1982 - 16

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be changed in order to provide optimum
reverberation time relationships for
various types of musical performances.
The Assisted Resonance System is a key
element in the multiple use concept.
The basic construction cost in 1975
was 52,800,000. Separate contracts for
grading, ound system, Assisted
Resonance System, tage lighting and
seating amounted to 5800,000.
The project won a Southern California Chapter, American Institute of Architects Honor Award in 1975.
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Krannert Center
for the Performing Arts
University of Illinois
Urbana, Illinois

Owner:
University of Illinois
Architect:
Harrison & Abramovitz
The Concord Pavilion

Frank O. Gehry and Associates

Concord Pavilion Concord, California
Owner: City of Concord, California
Architect:
Frank O. Gehry and Associates
Acoustical and Stage Design:
Jaffe Acoustics
Structural Consultant:
Garfinkel and Kurily
Mechanical Consultant:
John Kerr and Associates
Electrical Consultant:
Irving Schwartz Associates
Landscape Consultant:
Sasaki-Walker Associates
Completion: 1975
Seating Capacity: 3500 covered
4500 uncovered
Expected Use: Concerts
The Pavilion is located on an exceptional site in rolling, natural terrain.
The site is adjacent to a highway which
creates intrusive ambient noise. Accordingly, a crater-shaped amphitheatre
was formed utilizing the existing
topography and some additional excavation. The crater was designed so that the
sounds of performance would be conlot

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wined, while traffic noise and high
winds would be deflected.
The Pavilion design responds to an
ambitious program. It accommodates a
variety of activities: musical performances to rock, theatre productions,
ballet, school graduations, and public
rallies.
The Pavilion seats 3500 people under
a 200 foot square steel truss roof, and an
additional 4500 on the grass. The basic
stage con figuration adapts to a proscenium stage, thrust stage, arena, and
theatre-in-the-round. An orchestra pit,
located directly understage, is surrounded by an open moat to aid in sound
amplification. A portion of the stage
lowers hydraulically for increased performance flexibility, and an entire
seating bay is removable allowing trucks
to drive on stage to load props and
equipment. Lighting catwalks and control booths are suspended from the truss
structure above.
A concrete block sound wall encloses
the rear of the amphitheatre separating
it from the backstage support facilities.
In addition to the usual sound
system the Pavilion has an additional
electronic sound reinforcement system
called Assisted Resonance, which
enables the amount of reflected sound in
the lower and middle frequency range to

Thealre Design & Technology / USITT \VinIer 1982

Theatre Consultants:
Jo Mielziner
George C. Izenour
Acoustical Consultant:
Dr. Cyril M. Harris
Landscape Architect:
Sasaki, Dawson, DeMay Associates
Photographers:
Hedrich-Blessing
Ezra Stoller
Completion: 1969
Seating Capacity:
Great Hall 2200
Orchestral and choral works
Drama Theatre 678
Drama and dance
Music Theatre
965
Opera and other musical productions
A performing arts center for both
university and community use, Krannert
Center for the Performing Arts consists
of five theatre facilities, set on a raised
terrace, and organized around a huge
central lobby. The stage level extends
under the whole complex and provides
training and production facilities under
conditions which foster flexibility and
uninterrupted use.
Great Hall, the largest auditorium in
the Center, is a 2200-seat concert hall
designed primarily for orchestral and
choral performances. Rectangular in

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Theatre Design & Technology - Winter 1982