Theatre Design & Technology - Spring 1983 - 24

THEATRE ARCHITECTURE

Augsburg Theatre
Augsburg College
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Owner:
Augsburg College

Architect:
InterDesign, Inc.
Project Designer/Duane Thorbeck

Theatre and Acoustics Consultant:

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Russell Johnson Associates
Robert W. Wolff/Project Director

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Mechanical, Electrical, Structural
Engineers:
Sverdrop and Parcel, Inc.

Completion:
December, 1977
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Seating Capacity:

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Up to 240

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Expected Use:
Play, musical play production

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Augsburg College is recycling the
former Tabernacle Baptist Church to
provide facilities for its undergraduate
Theatre Program. This will be the third
new life for the building since its construction in the 1880's.
The primary large volume space will
be converted into a 150 to 240 seat
multi-form theatre, maintaining the
basic sanct uary plan shape, t he windows
in the south wall (with blackout curtains), arch openings high within the
space, and the large timbered attic.
Seating will be on portable risers on
the first level and on ledges surrounding
three sides of the room. The roof and
side walls of the theatre will be insulated
to meet the Minnesota energy code. The
underside of the roof will be treated with
sound absorbing materials, and the wall
insulation will be covered with stained
plywood. The rigging installation will
allow scenery to be hung in the space
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Thealre Design &

Technolog~

SECTl()NA.L. PERSPECTIVE

and fabric banners to be suspended on
the walls on occasions when an
acoustically dead space is desired.
The second level of the building will
provide an overlook space for balcony
ticket holders at the west end, and two
offices at the east end of the building.
Sound effects, communications, and
lighting control systems will be provided. An interconnecting panel with eventual capacity for approximately 150
lighting load circuits will be provided;
approximately 100 circuits to be installed by opening day. Catwalks will provide access to lighting and rigging
equipment.
Additional spaces at the west and
east ends of the first level will be
developed as lobby and green
room/make-up room respectively, and a
'ombined entrance for an existing gym-

USITT / Spring/ t983

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nasium and the theatre will be developee
at the north end of the theatre lobby
The entrance will serve as access to tht
box office, lavatories, check room, ane
as access for handicapped.
The basement will contain a rehear
sal room, prop and cost ume storage
costume shop, laundry, and dressing
shower and toilet facilities.
The exterior of the brick buildin~
will be painted and will be identifiablt
from the interstate highway b)
supergraphics. The pedestrian entry of
a city park, which forms the center 01
the Augsburg campus, will be land
scaped and set off by colorful banners
The theatre plant is compact, will bt
modestly equipped, and is to be ac
complished on a budget of approximate
Iy S500,000 including equipment ane
fees.
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Theatre Design & Technology - Spring 1983
