When the city of Bethesda, Maryland decided to build a new municipal parking garage, there was a development mandate to provide space in the building for a community-based cultural facility, Imagination Stage, a non-profit community arts group focused on working with children with learning disabilities was the perfect fit. Collaborating with Boston’s Wood + Zapata Architects, the firm provided theatre planning and design services to the team.

This 42,000 s.f. arts complex combines three rehearsal studios, classrooms, gallery, retail and office space. Making the most of the parking garage’s space constraints, our planning diagrams placed the stage house on the outside of the garage, forming a dramatic exterior mass that Wood + Zapata shaped into a sculptural theatre entrance.

The 375-seat main theater, with a full fly-loft, has a thrust stage. Small seats especially designed for young children wrap around the orchestra, while larger children and adults are seated further back. The smaller room is a flexible 150-seat black box theater. Both theatres are designed as teaching facilities, and are also fully equipped with modern rigging and lighting packages.

Project Info
Cost: $12,000,000
Complete: 2003
Scope: Planning, Architecture, Construction Oversight
Client: Imagination Stage/City of Bethesda
Staff: Scott Wilson, AIA; Scott Butler, AIA

arts / entertainment

education

"People’s expectations are surpassed when they see the building. Being in a space that is in itself artistic is very important for this organization."
Janet Stanford, Artistic Director, Imagination Stage