June
2004:
Press Conference:
Virginia Center for the Performing Arts, Richmond,
VA
Saturday, June 12 was a day of celebration, and demolition, for the City of Richmond, VA, as it unveiled the design of the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation's signature building, the Virginia Performing Arts Center and begins to clear the "Thalhimers Block", the site for the new downtown Center. With a scheduled opening for the Fall of 2007, the 240,000 s.f. Center will be home to four performance venues: an 'adaptable' 757-1177 seat Music Hall, the new home for the Richmond Symphony, a 200-seat Community Playhouse, a Jazz Club/restaurant and the newly expanded and renovated 2007-seat historic Carpenter Center, which will literally be embraced by the new facility.
"When we showed people the designs for the center, what we kept hearing was 'Wow'," VaPAF chairman Brad Armstrong said, after a preview of the design shown to the members of the VaPAF board.
The design, developed in partnership with Richmond architects Glave & Holmes and BAM Architects, and a team of internationally renowned consultants including acousticians Jaffe Holden Acoustics and theatre consultants Theatre Projects Consultants, pays tribute to the historic integrity of Richmond's finest architecture while creating an open and inviting feeling for patrons, and clearly expressing that it is a building for the performing arts.
"You are a city steeped in tradition, a community proud of your heritage," remarked architect Scott Wilson, AIA to the VaPAF Executive Board, "yet you are in the midst of reinventing yourselves as a cosmopolitan 21st century city. Nothing could be more appropriate for this challenge than to build a new Arts Center-an arts center that highlights the cultural richness of Richmond."
"This performing arts center must feel solid, lasting and belonging to Richmond," said Wilson's partner, Scott Butler, AIA, "At the same time it needs to express what will happen on its stages."
For
more on the project, click here for WBA's
Press Kit.
(4 mb pdf file)
