HOULTON – A sleek and sophisticated new performing arts facility is coming on line this month as the team of architects, engineers, theatre consultants, building contractors, theatre and school officials and many, many donors and community supporters each play their part in the final act of a complex and multi-faceted drama approaching its climax.
Contributed photo
FINISHED PRODUCT — The finished entrance will greet the public at the Grand Opening for the Houlton Community Arts Center this weekend.
On Friday, Nov. 20, representatives of the Houlton Community Arts Center and SAD 29 will step before the crowd in the new 600-seat auditorium to welcome it into one of the more advanced performing arts spaces to grace the state of Maine. Design Group Collaborative, with offices in Ellsworth and Portland has provided architectural design and project management for the project.
Lead architect and project manager Carla Haskell reflects on the previous months of collaboration and creative work: “It has been a great experience, working alongside the Houlton Community Arts Center, SAD 29 representatives, and this team of professionals. We all have the same goal to provide the community of Houlton with a truly state-of-the-art facility.”
In working out all design choices, the team tried to place themselves in the shoes of the performance teams and artists who will use the facility in the future, Haskell said. Special gaskets on all doors have controlled sound migration from outside the theatre. Light infiltration has been interrupted by the design of the transition spaces between the lobby and the auditorium.
“If we could think of it, we tried to do something about it,” Haskell said.
The team spared no effort to provide the artists and audiences with the tools and amenities they will need for a first class performance experience.
“It’s not your run-of-the-mill high school auditorium,” remarked Montpelier, Vt.-based theatre consultant, Don Hirsch of Don Hirsch Design Studio, referring to the sophisticated theatre technologies and the dynamic aesthetics of the space. “The lighting, sound and production support equipment are elements that many professional performing arts venues would be happy to have.,” he said.
“We see this as the beginning of a Renaissance for Houlton, a community that has always had a strong commitment to the arts, especially for our young people,” said Joe Fagnant, music department chairman at Houlton High School and president of HCACC.
Speaking of the process by which the new facility went from an idea to reality, he said, “It’s been kind of like putting on a really, really big show.”
The theatre will feature flexible seating configurations in order to accommodate large and small productions. The auditorium will also have the capability to host meetings of associations, councils, community events and will feature an increased number of accessible seats and pathways to lobby, stage and backstage areas. The lobby features a concession stand designed in the shape of a cello by Design Group Collaborative architects. Control booth features, backstage support spaces, catwalks, lighting positions, follow spot locations, speaker locations and sightlines from each and every seat were carefully scrutinized by the architects for maximum performance and/or efficiency.
