Trahan Architects Creates Large Curved Wood Wavy Space for Atlanta Theater
08/11/2020.
[Atlanta - Georgia] USA
metalocus, JUAN DE LUCAS
metalocus, JUAN DE LUCAS
Architecture firm Trahan Architects, led by founder Victor F. “Trey” Trahan and partners Leigh Breslau and Brad McWhirter have renovated the Coca-Cola Stage at the Alliance Theater in Atlanta, Georgia,
The interior of the Alliance Theatre chamber is wrapped using steam-bent oak timber to form an undulating auditorium, in the style of celebrated furniture and design artist Matthias Pliessnig.
The interior of the Alliance Theatre chamber is wrapped using steam-bent oak timber to form an undulating auditorium, in the style of celebrated furniture and design artist Matthias Pliessnig.
Atlanta theatre by Trahan Architects. Photography by Leonid Furmansky
Atlanta theatre by Trahan Architects. Photography by Leonid Furmansky
Atlanta theatre by Trahan Architects. Photography by Leonid Furmansky
Atlanta theatre by Trahan Architects. Photography by Leonid Furmansky
Atlanta theatre by Trahan Architects. Photography by Leonid Furmansky
Atlanta theatre by Trahan Architects. Photography by Robbie Eleazer
Atlanta theatre by Trahan Architects. Photography by Leonid Furmansky
Atlanta theatre by Trahan Architects. Photography by Leonid Furmansky
Atlanta theatre by Trahan Architects. Photography by Robbie Eleazer
Atlanta theatre by Trahan Architects. Photography by Leonid Furmansky
Site plan. Atlanta theatre by Trahan Architects.
Orchestra level and balcony level plan. Atlanta theatre by Trahan Architects.
Section. Atlanta theatre by Trahan Architects.
Diagram. Atlanta theatre by Trahan Architects.
Diagram. Atlanta theatre by Trahan Architects.
Diagram. Atlanta theatre by Trahan Architects.
Diagram. Atlanta theatre by Trahan Architects.
Detail. Atlanta theatre by Trahan Architects.
The new space designed by Trahan had to be acoustically perfect, with state-of-the-art technology used in live theater and it needed to have good interior flow.
Constructed in 1968, the 650-seat Alliance Theater a dazzling addition to the Woodruff Arts Center campus, in its 50th anniversary.
For the renovation, Trahan Architects stripped the interiors of the lobby, theatre and backstage areas back to the original concrete walls.
New York-based, steam-bent furniture designer Matthias Pliessnig worked closely with Trahan to design the woodwork in the Alliance’s new space. Pliessnig’s pieces can be seen in permanent collections at the Museum of Art and Design in New York, the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington D.C., and the James A. Michener Art Museum.
The complexity and scale of Pliessnig’s designs quickly necessitated the investigation of 3D projection and modeling for creation and installation, which until now had only been used to calibrate manufacturing processes.
Two companies stood out that could deliver this kind of work – CW Keller + Associates, expert fabricators for creating all the steam-bent wood elements for the space, and FARO Technologies, who uses industry-leading projector and scan data technology for precision installation. While this technology has been used in aerospace for years, the integration of the projector with scan data (as FARO has done, relevant for build and site install) was not available until very recently.
Constructed in 1968, the 650-seat Alliance Theater a dazzling addition to the Woodruff Arts Center campus, in its 50th anniversary.
For the renovation, Trahan Architects stripped the interiors of the lobby, theatre and backstage areas back to the original concrete walls.
New York-based, steam-bent furniture designer Matthias Pliessnig worked closely with Trahan to design the woodwork in the Alliance’s new space. Pliessnig’s pieces can be seen in permanent collections at the Museum of Art and Design in New York, the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington D.C., and the James A. Michener Art Museum.
The complexity and scale of Pliessnig’s designs quickly necessitated the investigation of 3D projection and modeling for creation and installation, which until now had only been used to calibrate manufacturing processes.
Two companies stood out that could deliver this kind of work – CW Keller + Associates, expert fabricators for creating all the steam-bent wood elements for the space, and FARO Technologies, who uses industry-leading projector and scan data technology for precision installation. While this technology has been used in aerospace for years, the integration of the projector with scan data (as FARO has done, relevant for build and site install) was not available until very recently.
Project description by Trahan Architects
The Alliance Theatre, founded in 1968, is a Tony award-winning regional theatre located within the celebrated Woodruff Arts Center campus. The initial phase of work focused on the chamber, its lobby and artistic support facilities which were gutted to the original concrete enclosing walls. The transformation pulled the 650 seat chamber 10’ closer to stage. The planning of the chamber optimized site lines, utilized ramping in lieu of lifts and integrated stairs to provide access to all levels. Each surface was tuned acoustically to deliver world class theatre to its patrons.
The design team felt a responsibility to remove the separation between balcony and orchestra – challenging historic notions of segregation and discrimination. All seating zones can be accessed from every entrance within the chamber – a unifying planning feature of the Alliance Theatre Transformation.
Trahan Architects assembled a world class team to implement handcrafted steam bending techniques and artistry on an architectural scale. From concept to construction the project demonstrates innovation through collaboration between artist Matthias Pliessnig, Trahan Architects, & millwork fabricators, CW Keller Associates. The result is a series of beautiful steam bent millwork guardrails and balconies that merge hand craft with mass production. The synthesis of acoustic performance, hand driven artistry, and sophisticated laser positioning are all carefully choregraphed to execute the complex steam bent millwork without the need for wasteful CNC molds. Delivered for $330/sf, the product has proven to be both economical and stunning.
More information
Architects
Project team
Trey Trahan, Leigh Breslau, Scott Melançon, Brad McWhirter, Robbie Eleazer, James Babin, Conway Pedron, Ayesha Husain, Sarah Hussaini, Wenyun Qian, Andrew Fu.
Collaborators
Artist collaboration.- Matthias Pliessnig.
Millwork fabrication.- CW Keller Associates.
Theatre consultants.- Theatre Projects Consultants.
Acoustics.- Talaske Group.
Structural engineer.- Uzun + Case.
MEP.- DLB Associates Consulting Engineers.
Lighting designer.- Fisher Marantz Stone.
Graphic design.- Thirst.
Life safety.- Jensen Hughes.
Project and cost management.- Cost+ Plus Vertical.
Transportation.- Lerch Bates.
Client
Alliance Theatre.
Area
6,500 m² (70,000 sqf).
Dates
Completed Fall 2019.
Photography
Leonid Furmansky, Robbie Eleazer.
Victor F. “Trey” Trahan Trahan Architects
Trahan Architects is a global architecture firm with offices in New Orleans and New York founded in New Orleans by Victor F. “Trey” Trahan, III, FAIA in 1992.
Trahan Architects developed an extensive portfolio of work that spans the realms of the cultural, academic, athletic, residential, ecological, and beyond. Notable projects include the Coca-Cola Stage at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia; Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana; and conservation and preservation undertakings in St. Francisville, Louisiana and in Corcovado National Park in Patagonia, Chile.
Trahan Architects developed an extensive portfolio of work that spans the realms of the cultural, academic, athletic, residential, ecological, and beyond. Notable projects include the Coca-Cola Stage at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia; Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana; and conservation and preservation undertakings in St. Francisville, Louisiana and in Corcovado National Park in Patagonia, Chile.
2020 AIA New Orleans, Honor Award for Interior Architecture. Coca-Cola Stage at the Alliance Theatre.
2020 AIA New Orleans, Honor Award for Unbuilt Architecture. New England Mixed-Use Development.
2020 AIA New Orleans, Merit Award for Unbuilt Architecture. Ochsner Center for Innovation.
2020 American Architecture Award, The Chicago Athenaeum. Ochsner Center for Innovation.
