homeWelcome, sign in or click here to subscribe.login
     


 

 

Architecture & Engineering


print  email to a friend  reprints add to mydjc  

June 23, 2017

Seattle Opera starts work on its $60M new space at Seattle Center

NBBJ rendering by MOTIV [enlarge]

Seattle Opera has started building its new $60 million civic home at Seattle Center. The site is on the east side of its performance space, Marion Oliver McCaw Hall.

The four-story, 106,400-square-foot building will house offices; costume, prop and tech storage; and spaces for scene assembly, rehearsal, community events and education.

Large windows along Speight Jenkins Way (Fourth Avenue North) and Mercer Street will let passersby see into the costume shop and community spaces.

NBBJ is the architect and Lease Crutcher Lewis is general contractor. Shiels Obletz Johnsen is the project manager.

The building is slated to open by the end of 2018.

Seattle Opera General Director Aidan Lang said in a statement that the goal is to create a purpose-built space that unlocks opera for everyone.

“It will serve as a civic space where anyone can see and learn about the technical and artistic aspects of putting together a show.”

The new building will have rehearsal space for artists and teachers, and space for apprentice programs where young people can learn skills such as rigging, lighting and arts management.

The building will also allow Seattle Opera to consolidate most of its operations. The company currently rents rehearsal, operations and administrative space in South Lake Union, and trucks sets to and from McCaw Hall. The new building will connect to the McCaw Hall stage, limiting the need for trucks.

The city of Seattle owns the site, and Seattle Opera has a long-term ground lease.

Most of the funding for the project — 84 percent — has been raised. City, county and state sources account for $14 million of the total.




Email or user name:
Password:
 
Forgot password? Click here.