Posted Dec 5, 2014, 3:35 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 196
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Ok, as the only theater practitioner here, and likely the only board member that has actually advised on a theater construction project before, I have to chime in to correct some of the gross mischaracterizations that are being leveled against the Point Park Playhouse. I have not made my mind up if this plan is good or bad yet, i am waiting to see the interior floor plans for that, but alot of the knee jerk "I'ts anti urban!" and "its just a pile of ornament!" are completely inappropriate.
First of all, a well programed theater is by definition "urban". Contrary to popular belief, an urban environment is not defined by tall buildings. Urban space is human scaled, that's it. It is designed so that the human experience rises above all other uses. This does not exclude tall buildings as they bring more density and with more density come more places in a smaller foot print, but just as important as density is respite space. A theater can be both dense and a place of respite. When the crowds rush in 7 times a week they create an active environment and draw hundreds of people to a part of town they never would go to otherwise. Besides that they can, if well programed, become a quite place to step out of the daily grind for small concerts, talks, lunches, etc. during other hours.
Theaters are inherently short buildings. Even in New York City, there is only one Broadway theater that does not stand alone, all the rest are about 1-3 stories tall. I don't see anyone bemoaning the fact that all that valuable land in NYC right next to other skyscrapers isn't being used for tall buildings. Because of the large interior open spaces that theaters need, engineering many extra floors ontop of them can become quite cost prohibitive. For more local examples look at the Benedum, Byam, or Heinz Hall. A well designed and acoustically sound theater is rarely able to mix with additional uses. I know that at CMU they have major issues with the Chosky theater having one floor of classrooms above it. They have to close down bathrooms and classrooms anytime a show is happening as it creates noise in the theater spaces.
I take special issue with the claims that the courtyard is problematic. This courtyard, as a theater-goer and theater-maker, is the major selling point for this space. The biggest issue with urban theaters is the crowds on the sidewalk. When the doors open, at intermission, and when the play is over sidewalks become unnavigable because they are not designed for that many people at once. This courtyard will define another space where audience can mingle and spread out so that this crush is mitigated. The coffee shop they talk about on the second level will do the same thing. The "catwalk" as everyone is calling it is also a really great use of space in my book. First of all it defines the courtyard and puts a barrier between the street and the open space. this will create a usable area that the noise from the street will be deadened in. This space can now be used for small concerts or similar small scale gatherings. The arcade under the "catwalk" now gives a covered place for ticket takes or ushers to stand in for events in the courtyard. It is an incredibly clever way to basically create and additional theater space.
In terms of "breaking the streetwall" that everyone is worried about, this does not do it. The front of the arcade is still inline with the contextual front of buildings all along the street. It creates no additional barriers for people walking along the sidewalk. This arcade is "place making" at its finest and simplest. It keeps the historic view corridor open, but allows a space for people that want to get out of the crowds to go. I would argue that this one story arcade does more for preserving an actual streetwall than Walnut on Penn does with its 6 story parking garage. This courtyard gives people a new destination on the street and more of a reason to be there, as opposed to the huge wall in east liberty that looks nice but is completely solid and devoid of any storefronts. A streetwall is not just a continuation of facades, it is how we interact with a city. It needs to be permeable, varied, and create destinations.
As far as what a theater on this site could be, I think the exterior of the building is incredibly contextual, works well at saving and integrating the upper facades of the buildings they are tearing down, and creates a new destination place that this part of downtown is lacking. I am still holding out to see the floor plans to make my final verdict, but the architects seem to be very conscious of what this space can and should be.
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