[ Bing Thom Architects ] Arena Stage

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater doubles the company’s previous facilities.  The design by Bing Tom Architects included restoring two historic theaters, Fichandler and Kreeger,  and adding a new experimental theater, Kogod Cradle.  A wood and glass structure encase all three theaters topped by a sculptural and dramatic cantilevered roof.  Bing Thom Architects thoughtful site design has turned this project into a catalyst in the SW Washington community spurring redevelopment with in the surrounding areas.

Architects: Bing Thom Architects
Location: Washington DC, United States
Principal: Bing Thom, Michael Heeney
Project Director: James Brown
Project Team: Brian Ackerman
, John Camfield, 
Venelin Kokalev, Ling Meng, Michael Motlagh, Francis Yan, Harald Merk, Berit Wooge, Bibianka Fehr, Dan Du, Nicole Hu, Robert Sandilands, Bonnie Thom
, Amirali Javidan, 
Shinobu Homma, 
Derek Kaplan, 
Marcos Hui, Rose Chung
Acoustical Engineer: Talaske
Theater Consultant: Fisher Dachs Associates
Structural Engineer: Fast & Epp
Electrical Engineers: Stantec, in association with Vanderweil Engineers
Mechanical Engineers: Yoneda & Associates
Mechanical Design/Build: Southland Industries
Code Consultant: LMDG in association with Koffel Associates
Glazing Consultant: RA Heintges & Associates
Lighting Design: William Lam
Civil Engineers: Wiles Mensch Corporation
General Contractor: Clark Construction
Construction Manager: KCM, Paeonian
Client: Arena Stage
Project Area: 200,000 sqf
Project Year: 2010
Photographs: Nic Lehoux, Courtesy of Bing Thom Architects

Working closely with the client, the architects focused on incorporating Artistic Director Molly Smith’s idea of ’a theater for all that is passionate, exhuberant, profound, deep and dangerous in the American spirit.’

A new theater, subsurface administration, parking and support spaces, rehearsal halls and a free span roof with bars and a cafe enclosed by a one of a kind wood/glass cable supported curtain-wall system.  Arena Stage has a free form roof and a 140′ cantilever.  Over 15,000 cubic yards of architectural concrete was used, and a complex audio, theater, acoustic and MEP systems.

from  archdaily