- Auerbach Pollock Friendlander Completes Work on New Signature Center in New York

Auerbach Pollock Friedlander, theatre design consultant of Signature Center, a new performing arts venue, which will be the permanent home of Signature Theatre Company, has completed its work on the center, comprising three intimate theatres, a studio theatre, rehearsal studio, public café, and bookstore. A performing arts/media facilities planning and design firm that provides the link between the end user of the facility and the designing architect, Auerbach Pollock Friedlander worked in collaboration with Signature Theatre Company, Gehry Partners, LLP, and H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture (architect of record) to provide theatre consulting and audio video systems design for Signature Center. Auerbach Pollock Friedlander consulted on space programming, including the development of the required functional spaces, their area, adjacency and design criteria; developed the conceptual layouts for each theatre, including audience seating sightlines, audience, performer, and technical staff circulation; provided theatrical systems design, including the complete detail design of theatrical lighting controls, fly space and rigging, audio, video, and communication systems; and managed construction administration, including the review of all contractor drawings and proposals for the theatrical systems and coordinated these with other trades. The firm also specified equipment and controls for the digital signage and media system developed for Signature Theatre by POP!Multimedia. 2 Signature Theatre will present its first performance in the new facility on January 31.

Auerbach Pollock Friedlander began working with Signature Theatre and Gehry Partners, LLP on the programming and schematic design for a new home for the Signature Theatre Company in 2004 that would fulfill Founding artistic director James Houghton's vision of a three-theatre center, supporting the company's desire to expand its series of programs focusing on the core mission of celebrating the role of the playwright. During this time, Auerbach Pollock Friedlander consulted on modifications to initial programming studies, reviewed several site options and provided the initial concept plans for the current facility -- a 70,000-sq.-ft. cultural amenity designed by Gehry Partners LLP, and located within a 59-story high rise hotel and residential tower designed by Arquitectonica and developed by the Related Companies (developer for Time Warner Building with Jazz at Lincoln Center). Covering an entire city block, the new Signature Center's three performance venues include the End Stage, a 299-seat theatre; the Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre, a 199-seat flexible theatre; and the 199-seat Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre. The performance spaces are situated around a central lobby with a café and bookstore. The project also includes a 99-seat performance/rehearsal space and a second rehearsal studio as well as Signature Theatre's administrative offices.

Designing the performance spaces and coordinating the program areas with the already existing base building structure, vertical transport, stair cores and allowable floor area was quite challenging," said principal in charge, Steven Friedlander. "The coordinated efforts of the team resulted in the development of three distinctive theatre spaces around the already existing structural columns and shear walls."

"The new Signature Center has theatre systems that are not typically found in Off-Broadway performance venues such as a facility-wide communications and advanced stage rigging technology," said project manager Don Guyton. "In all cases, the team looked to find the best systems solutions and the result is superior functionality and flexibility for each of the three, very different, performance spaces."

"As we open our doors at Signature Center, we realize our long-term vision of building a truly vibrant cultural destination that honors, supports, and celebrates playwrights at all stages of their careers," noted James Houghton. "We are delighted to partner with Auerbach Pollock Friedlander in this tremendous effort, and are extraordinarily grateful for the support of our entire design team."