Rounds Theater Pavilion

Rounds Theater Pavilion
© Nick Zukauskas

ROUNDS THEATER PAVILION

SPORTS

CATEGORY
Pavilion

LOCATION
Lake Forest, United States

ARCHITECTS
SPORTS

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
Rosborough Partners

EXTERIOR FINISH
Stuc-O-Flex

YEAR
2016

PHOTOGRAPHS
Nick Zukauskas

ENGINEER
Arup

BUILD TEAM
Greg Corso, Molly Hunker, Jordan Nelson, Nick Zukauskas, Kevin Lenhart, Preston Welker, Sean Morgan, Dabota Wilcox, Jon Anthony, Monika England, Kokeith Perry, Sarah Beadoin

The project is a temporary theater pavilion for the Ragdale Foundation, an artist colony 30 miles north of Chicago in the community of Lake Forest, Illinois.Rounds is the winning design for the 2016 Ragdale Ring international design-build competition and the recipient of the Adrian Smith Prize.

Rounds Theater Pavilion
© Nick Zukauskas
Rounds Theater Pavilion
© Nick Zukauskas

Departing from the convention of the bandshell structure and stage most commonly deployed in this setting, Rounds establishes a whimsical and inhabitable performance surface.

Through a multiplicity of surface undulation types and sizes, Rounds encourages a multiplicity of the performer to audience relationships, performance types, stage arrangements, and seating options, generating a versatile outdoor venue and a fully encompassing experience.

Rounds Theater Pavilion
© Nick Zukauskas
Rounds Theater Pavilion
© Nick Zukauskas

Small-scale undulations in the ring surface act as a lounge space for viewers during performances, or artists to contemplate their work during non-performance times.

Mid-scale undulations in the surface provide entrances to the inner space of the ring, while also providing smaller scale protected stage areas.

Rounds Theater Pavilion
© Nick Zukauskas
Rounds Theater Pavilion
© Nick Zukauskas

The largest undulation is designed for the main stage area, a stage that can be broken down into smaller parts and distributed around the ring for several concurrent performances.


Rounds Theater Pavilion
© Nick Zukauskas
Rounds Theater Pavilion
© Nick Zukauskas
Rounds Theater Pavilion
© Nick Zukauskas
Rounds Theater Pavilion
© Nick Zukauskas
Rounds Theater Pavilion
© Nick Zukauskas
Rounds Theater Pavilion
© Nick Zukauskas
Rounds Theater Pavilion
© Nick Zukauskas
Rounds Theater Pavilion
© Nick Zukauskas
Rounds Theater Pavilion
© Nick Zukauskas
Rounds Theater Pavilion
© Nick Zukauskas


Rounds Theater Pavilion
Axo diagram
Rounds Theater Pavilion
Concept diagram
Rounds Theater Pavilion
Diagram