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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2010
E9
FEDERAL TRIANGLE
Wash. Mon.
Jeff. Mem.
395
FEDERAL TRIANGLE
CONSTITUTION AVE. THE MALL INDEPENDENCE AVE. D.C. Capitol 395
Arena Stage M ST.
WATERFRONT- SEU
VA. McNair Fort 0 MILE
Hains Pt.
1/4
Arena Stage
NAVY YARD
Nationals Ballpark
Garage: underground parking with a
capacity for 70 cars. U.S. Ea
Location, location, location
Te new Arena Stage facility sits at the intersection of Maine Avenue and M and Sixth Streets SW. Te front door, and the entrance to the small parking garage (check in advance for access), is on Maine Avenue Te Waterfront Metro Green Line station on M Street is one block away, and Circulator passes down Sixth Street Te building is best seen from Maine Avenue, where its serpentine glass front faces the Washington waterfront, giving new life to a rapidly transforming neighborhood.
Waterfront SEU Metro
god Cradle
most innovative and daring feature of architect Bing Tom’s complex be the new 200-seat theater, which helps support the roof while venting the small theater space. Inspired by the sculpture of Richard a, the Cradle is approached through a narrow, semicircular passage takes audiences on a journey away from the everyday world. Inside, en wooden slats compensate for acoustical problems and make the ence feel as though it is sitting in a giant wicker basket.
St. Augustine’s Episcopal
0 FEET
500
Main entrance and box office
Te main entry is off Sixth Street, where the entrance to the Fichandler was.
Fichandler Stage
Rather than abandon its existing, landmark theater spaces, including the Fichandler Stage, Arena preserved them, incorporating them into the new building. Designed by Chicago architect Harry Weese, who also designed Washington’s Metro, the 680-seat, arena-style Fichandler needed a lot of love, including better acoustics and sound insulation.
Elevator
or
Semi-circular passage
Bar
lumns
Tom’s huge wooden mns are a first in Washington. e of super-strong composite, give the modern design a ural touch, each supporting e than 400,000 pounds. At r base, they taper to a erina-like point. Above, wooden s help support the glass wall.
Torquing floor
If there’s a secret ingredient to the building’s success, it may be its gently sloping floor, which connects the different entry points of the historic theaters without stairs — and adds a quirky, organic sense of flow to the main lobby space.
WEST elevation Offices
An administrative suite brings all of Arena’s departments, from dramaturgy to
community engagement, under one soaring roof.
Molly Smith’s office
What’s Molly Smith doing? A fishbowl office puts the artistic director on display.
Roofline
Te roofline of the new theater is no higher than the surrounding buildings. But its bold shape announces that a new design aesthetic has come to Washington.
NORTH elevation aine Avenue View from north side ALBERTO CUADRA, BONNIE BERKOWITZ, LARIS KARKLIS /THE WASHINGTON POST
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14TH ST.
7TH ST. 6TH ST.
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6th St. SW
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