Pelli Clarke & Partners

George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater

George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater
© Jeff Goldberg / ESTO

GEORGE S. AND DOLORES DORÉ ECCLES THEATER

Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects

DESIGNER
Harp-Dinnen, Christina Fazio, Tiffany Li Fu, Dylan Hames, Carl Cornilsen

ASSOCIATE ARCHITECT
HKS Architects

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
MGB+A The Grassli Group

MANUFACTURERS
Interstate Brick, Kawneer, UCS Forest Group, Exclusive Cabinets Inc, Kepco, Seating

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Thornton Tomasetti, Reavely Engineers

ARCHITECTS IN CHARGE
Mitch Hirsch, Fred Clarke, Cesar Pelli

ACOUSTIC DESIGN
Jaffe Holden

LIGHTING DESIGN
CBBLD, BNA Consulting Engineers

MEP ENGINEERING
Buro Happold, BNA Consulting Engineers, Van Boerum & Frank Associates, Inc.

THEATER PLANNER
Fisher Dachs Associates

SENIOR DESIGN PRINCIPAL
Fred Clarke

DESIGN PRINCIPAL IN CHARGE
Mitchell Hirsch

DESIGN TEAM LEADER
Gina Narracci

CLIENT
Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County

AREA
185000 ft²

YEAR
2016

LOCATION
Salt Lake City, United States

CATEGORY
Theater

Text description provided by architect.

The George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater began as an urban master plan designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects for an entire city block in Salt Lake City.

George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater
© Jeff Goldberg / ESTO
George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater
© Jeff Goldberg / ESTO

Multiple stakeholders, the Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake City, and private developers were involved in enhancing the development of the area, which included placing an air rights office tower and a performing arts center on the same block.

In Salt Lake City, blocks average around 660’x660’—in New York City, the short side of the blocks average 265’. This provided a critical challenge in developing connectivity and the creation of active exterior and interior public spaces to invite pedestrians inward while maintaining the integrity of the city

After the completion of the master plan, the 2,500-seat, state-​of-​the-​art George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater was designed as an urban performing arts center, celebrating the architecture of Salt Lake City and the landscapes and skies of Utah.

In the tradition of other PCPA projects in cities like Charlotte, Cincinnati, Dayton, Chicago, and Madison. Each of these buildings is characterized by the need to create an important landmark identity and, most importantly, to enhance and fit into the city’s fabric.

George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater
© Jeff Goldberg / ESTO
George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater
© Jeff Goldberg / ESTO

This challenges the designers to address the technical and architectural demands of a performing arts center while elegantly contributing to the character of the surrounding city.

The building has two major parallel “fronts” of differing but related character. From Main Street, visitors enter the theater lobby/winter garden, which has the ability open up to the street. The theater’s primarily glass Main Street façade recalls the architectural elements of Salt Lake City architecture. 

George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater
© Jeff Goldberg / ESTO
George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater
© Jeff Goldberg / ESTO

A large L-shaped frame of limestone, a material used in prominent Salt Lake City buildings, simultaneously separates and unifies the performing arts center and the office tower above it. A smaller frame defines the glowing and transparent lobby winter garden.

The Regent Street façade is more casual than its Main Street counterpart. Retail shops, the rehearsal room lobby, and the entrance to the Galleria surround the stage door, which would normally be concealed from view. On the south end of the building is the Regent Street Plaza, which doubles as a loading area and event space.

George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater
© Jeff Goldberg / ESTO
George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater
© Jeff Goldberg / ESTO

The acoustically-glazed black box theater projects over the public space and the large loading gates. This functional space during loading and unloading converts to a lively event space at all other times, hosting parties, performances, farmer’s markets, and other public functions.

At the heart of the complex is the large proscenium theater residing off the main street lobby, which allows for accommodation of the backstage and other support spaces off Regent Street.

George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater
© Jeff Goldberg / ESTO
George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater
© Jeff Goldberg / ESTO

This makes the tall lobby space highly visible to the street, creating an active urban presence. Site specific public artwork helps to energize the space. The theater itself recalls the terraced Utah landscape, a composition of warm colored panels, gold-toned perforated metal, and points of light that make the space sparkle.

The ceiling looks like the night sky with tiny, star-like lights seemingly suspended in dark, acoustic material that conceals the banks of stage lighting and mechanical equipment above.

George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater
© Jeff Goldberg / ESTO


George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater
Ground Floor Plan
George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater
2nd Floor Plan


George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater
Section
George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater
Site Plan

Pelli Clarke & Partners
T +1 203 7772515 F +1 203 7872856
Pelli Clarke & Partners
1056 Chapel St, New Haven, CT 06510, United States