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.
![Kalita Humphreys Theater Rendering Diller Scofidio + Renfro](/sites/default/files/inline-images/02_KHT%20Masterplan_DSR.jpg)
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
![Kalita Humphreys Theater Rendering Diller Scofidio + Renfro](/sites/default/files/inline-images/01_KHT%20Masterplan_DSR.jpg)
![Kalita Humphreys Theater Rendering Diller Scofidio + Renfro](/sites/default/files/inline-images/03_KHT%20Masterplan_DSR.jpg)
![Kalita Humphreys Theater Rendering Diller Scofidio + Renfro](/sites/default/files/inline-images/04_KHT%20Masterplan_DSR.jpg)
Related Stories
| Aug 11, 2010
JE Dunn, Balfour Beatty among country's biggest institutional building contractors, according to BD+C's Giants 300 report
A ranking of the Top 50 Institutional Contractors based on Building Design+Construction's 2009 Giants 300 survey. For more Giants 300 rankings, visit http://www.BDCnetwork.com/Giants
| Aug 11, 2010
Jacobs, Arup, AECOM top BD+C's ranking of the nation's 75 largest international design firms
A ranking of the Top 75 International Design Firms based on Building Design+Construction's 2009 Giants 300 survey. For more Giants 300 rankings, visit http://www.BDCnetwork.com/Giants
| Aug 11, 2010
Manhattan's Pier 57 to be transformed into cultural center, small business incubator, and public park as part of $210 million redevelopment plan
LOT-EK, Beyer Blinder Belle, and West 8 have been selected as the design team for Hudson River Park’s Pier 57 at 15th Street and the Hudson River as part of the development group led by New York-based real estate developer YoungWoo & Associates. The 375,000 square foot vacant, former passenger ship terminal will be transformed into a cultural center, small business incubator, and public park, including a rooftop venue for the Tribeca Film Festival.
| Aug 11, 2010
Theater Renovation—A First-Class Production
In 1985, the city of San Diego ordered the historic Balboa Theatre, its beleaguered performing arts center, to be shuttered due to seismic safety concerns. It would take another two decades to restore the landmark building.
| Aug 11, 2010
Kansas City Music Hall and Municipal Auditorium
Kansas City, Mo.
The show will go on in Kansas City’s beloved Music Hall and Municipal Auditorium thanks to a fast-track renovation and expansion project that brought the 72-year-old Art Deco playhouse up to 21st-century standards.
| Aug 11, 2010
Gilbane, Whiting-Turner among nation's largest university contractors, according to BD+C's Giants 300 report
A ranking of the Top 50 University Contractors based on Building Design+Construction's 2009 Giants 300 survey. For more Giants 300 rankings, visit /giants
| Aug 11, 2010
AASHE releases annual review of sustainability in higher education
The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) has announced the release of AASHE Digest 2008, which documents the continued rapid growth of campus sustainability in the U.S. and Canada. The 356-page report, available as a free download on the AASHE website, includes over 1,350 stories that appeared in the weekly AASHE Bulletin last year.
| Aug 11, 2010
Burt Hill, HOK top BD+C's ranking of the nation's 100 largest university design firms
A ranking of the Top 100 University Design Firms based on Building Design+Construction's 2009 Giants 300 survey. For more Giants 300 rankings, visit http://www.BDCnetwork.com/Giants
| Aug 11, 2010
Jacobs, HDR top BD+C's ranking of the nation's 100 largest institutional building design firms
A ranking of the Top 100 Institutional Design Firms based on Building Design+Construction's 2009 Giants 300 survey. For more Giants 300 rankings, visit http://www.BDCnetwork.com/Giants
| Aug 11, 2010
David Rockwell unveils set for upcoming Oscar show
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and 82nd Academy Awards® production designer David Rockwell unveiled the set for the upcoming Oscar show.