Theatre Design & Technology - Summer 2001 - 56

USITT
ARCHITECTURE
AWARDS
PROGRAM
LONG BEACH

2001
by Steve Pollock
Only a few years ago, the USITT Architecture Commission seriously considered restructuring the Institute's annual Architecture Awards as an every-other-year event. After the flurry of
project submissions during the first years, it was hard to believe that there could be enough new construction and renovation to make a yearly competition energetic and viable. But
a poll of the commission and members of the American Society of Theatre Consultants suggested just the opposite. A level
of planning and design activity was underway that would provide a more than ample number of projects "by the year
2000."
The volume and international scope of projects submitted for review to this year's jury bore this out-and then
some. The activity witnessed over the past and current year
suggests that annual awards should be blessed with a broad
and diverse range of submissions for years to come. The
USITT 2001 Architecture Awards represent the best of theatre
design, both for renovations of existing facilities as well as the
conception and the physical realization of the most exciting
new venues for the performing arts in this new millennium.
The jury for this year's awards was headed by architects
Bud Oringdulph and Michael Tingley of BOORA Architects in
Portland, Oregon. Randy Gragg, arts and architecture critic
for Portland's Oregonian and Steve Pollock, Theatre Consulting Principal at Auerbach + Associates sat in as the other voting panel members. Bill Murray, Architecture Commissioner
and Senior Associate at Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Architects,
oversaw the proceedings that considered thirty-three
projects, ranging from one designed in a "found" performance space in a Portland advertising firm to an array of international venues in such places as Kuala Lumpur, Seoul
and Weimar, Germany.

The work was an exciting affirmation of a capital commitment to the performing arts in the United States and
abroad. The evaluation process subjected all submissions to
rigorous criteria that considered theatre design against the
touchstones of ingenuity, functionality and the advancement
and preservation of the art of theatre design in support of live
performance. Upon review of the submissions, the jury initially sorted the projects by their type, recognizing the different criteria required to serve drama-specific venues, concert
halls and multi-use auditoria. We also opted to recognize outstanding renovation projects and new theatre facilities in
separate categories. Special recognition was also afforded
one unique project for its attention and commitment to accessible design for audiences largely comprised of people
with disabilities.
There were no easy choices. The tireless efforts of
project publicists who provided information and excellent
photographs were appreciated, however some high-profile
projects were passed over for others that were, at the time,
relatively unknown. In the end, the underlying nature of the
project was paramount to the jury who felt that it was important to reward outstanding examples of designers' and architects' work supported by original, creative (and practical)
solutions to the theatrical space.
This year's honorees represent the best in renovations
of classic facilities and the creation of some new facilities that
have the potential to rise to the status of classics themselves.
Steve Pollock is vice president of Auerbach +
Associates in San Francisco, and serves as the
Architecture Commission's vice-commissioner for
publications.
TD & T

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Theatre Design & Technology - Summer 2001