Page 32 - School Planning & Management, April/May 2019

Building Blueprints { FACILITIES IN FOCUS }
PERFORMANCE VENUES in educational facilities come in varying sizes, seating arrange-
ments, flexibility, and functionality. One school’s needs and culture
curriculum trends to ensure their value is not overlooked. A typical theater/drama production offers a relevant example of experiential learning and emersion in to
environment. These also can support a wide variety of educational benefits. The following two case studies will highlight these design trends and varying ideologies.
Ursuline Academy of Dallas: Specific Use | Fixed-Seat Theater
Ursuline Academy of Dallas is an independent Catholic college prepara- tory school for young women located in Dallas, Texas. One key factor in determin- ing the type of theater needed to support the school’s vision was the overall seating
Performance Space
TRENDS IN DESIGN WITH TWO CONTRASTING APPROACHES. by AARON EWERT, LEED-AP AND GREG ESTES, RA
may require a larger volume
to house the entire student
body, where another school
may be more interested in maximizing the flexibility of a space for a variety of events or programs. Regardless of form, flexibil- ity, and function, these areas play a critical role in educational development.
How Do Performing Art Areas Fit Into the Current Trends of Educational Design?
Theaters and similar venues can be expensive and take up a significant amount of space. It is important to understand how they align with current educational and
project based learning envi- ronments. Each production is an opportunity to design and create scripts or sets,
engineer and build, and then present or perform. Students are given opportunities to take ownership of complete processes and use creative thinking skills throughout.
Active learning is also on display as stu- dents are taught to operate rigging, sound, and lighting systems that can prepare them for higher education or professional oppor- tunities in the performing arts. In multi- purpose theaters, the students gain access to a large space that serves as an extension of core classroom and fabrication labs that can flex into a community core or a theater
AUDITORIUMS
32 SCHOOL PLANNING & MANAGEMENT / APRIL/MAY 2019
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PHOTOS: URSULINE ACADEMY OF DALLAS THEATER, DALLAS, TEXAS