Diller Scofidio + Renfro recently presented plans to restore the Kalita Humphreys Theater at the Dallas Theater Center (DTC) in Dallas. Originally designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, this theater is the only freestanding theater in Wright’s body of work, DS+R said in a news release. “The Kalita Humphreys Theater is a mid-century architectural masterpiece in need of a thoughtful update after several generations of cultural, technological, and urban change,” says Kevin Moriarty, DTC’s artistic director.
“Over the years, a combination of neglect and additions have compromised the building’s integrity,” the release says. “Restoring the Kalita Humphreys Theater to its original state requires a multifaceted approach that involves surgical extraction, selective reconstruction, careful preservation, and faithful reinterpretation of Wright’s design intent.”
The design plan calls for removal of superfluous elements added over time, including the 1968 lobby extension that compromised the original massing of the building. Architectural details will be refurbished, including mid-century light fixtures, air grilles, door handles, window moldings, and furniture.
The building will undergo modernization including upgraded lighting, AV, stage infrastructure, and other back-of-house functions to improve flexibility for a wider range of performances. Seating will be re-raked to resemble the 1959 auditorium, but each row will be staggered to improve sightlines. A central information point and historical center in the campus lobby will orient and engage visitors.
The theater’s surrounding landscape will get a makeover to make the site more engaging throughout the day. Over the years, the bucolic setting has been fragmented by large parking lots and a tangle of roadways. Bluffs removed as part of the 1968 addition are irrecoverable, but a lightly reshaped landscape will echo the original topography. Invasive bamboo will be removed in favor of native grasses and shrubs, helping to control erosion and absorb runoff. Improved visual and physical linkages will provide connections to adjoining trails.
New courtyards and plazas, upper-level green roofs, a bosque, walkways, and a restaurant and café will be constructed. A 100-seat black box theater with a walkable ceiling grid and an operable façade will open onto one of the courtyards, creating an indoor/outdoor venue with flexible seating configurations. A multipurpose pavilion will offer a flexible infrastructure for formal and informal events, including public classes and workshops. More cellular spaces in the rehearsal and education ‘tower’ will house small, immersive productions.
Also on the project team:
Design Architect: Diller Scofidio + Renfro, (Partner-in-Charge: Charles Renfro)
Local Architect: BOKA Powell
Landscape Architects: Reed Hilderbrand
Historic Preservation: Harboe Architects
Structural Engineer: Robert Silman Associates
Civil & Traffic Engineer: Pacheco Koch
Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing Engineer: Syska Hennessy Group
Construction Manager: Beck Construction
Related Stories
Museums | Sep 29, 2015
Designs unveiled for Warsaw Art Museum and Theatre
Emphasizing the building’s role in the public sphere, the museum will be accessible from all sides.
Performing Arts Centers | Jul 27, 2015
Vox Populi: Netherlands municipality turns to public vote to select design for new theater
UNStudio’s Theatre on the Parade received nearly three-fifths of votes cast in contest between two finalists.
Cultural Facilities | Jul 17, 2015
Rojkind Arquitectos serves up concert hall on the rocks in Mexico
The same way Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim has put Bilbao on the map, architect Michel Rojkind hopes his design will be “an urban detonator capable of inciting modernity in the area.”
Modular Building | Jun 10, 2015
London debuts business complex made from 50 shipping containers
London's newest business complex, Pop Brixton, will support local entrepreneurs, create jobs, and is made entirely of shipping containers.
Building Team Awards | Apr 10, 2015
14 projects that push AEC teaming to the limits
From Lean construction to tri-party IPD to advanced BIM/VDC coordination, these 14 Building Teams demonstrate the power of collaboration in delivering award-winning buildings. These are the 2015 Building Team Award winners.
Building Team Awards | Apr 10, 2015
New arts venue reinvigorates Virginia Tech's campus
The STV-led Building Team creates a world-class performance and arts venue with learning and entrepreneurial dimensions.
Retail Centers | Mar 10, 2015
Retrofit projects give dying malls new purpose
Approximately one-third of the country’s 1,200 enclosed malls are dead or dying. The good news is that a sizable portion of that building stock is being repurposed.
Architects | Feb 27, 2015
5 finalists announced for 2015 Mies van der Rohe Award
Bjarke Ingels' Danish Maritime Museum and the Ravensburg Art Museum by Lederer Ragnarsdóttir Oei are among the five projects vying for the award.
Cultural Facilities | Feb 20, 2015
‘Floating’ park on New York’s Hudson River moves one step closer to reality
The developers envision the 2.4-acre space as a major performance arts venue.
| Jan 17, 2015
When is a train station not a train station? When it’s a performance venue
You can catch a train at Minneapolis’s new Target Field Station. You can also share in an experience. That’s what ‘Open Transit’ is all about.
