Voting Home / EJ Thomas Hall
Nominated for: BEST Theater
Architects Caudill, Rowlett and Scott of Houston, and Dalton, Van Dijk, Johnson and Partners of Cleveland were approached by The University to create an overall design which has resulted in one of the world's finest multi-purpose halls in terms of design, acoustics and creative mechanisms. Theatre consultant Dr. George Izenour of Yale University and acoustician Dr. Vern Knudsen of The University of California, Los Angeles, were instrumental in the planning and development of the movable ceiling in order to regulate the volume, manipulate the acoustics and alter the physical dimensions of the main hall.
This three-level auditorium, featuring continental seating, has a seating capacity of 2,955. One of the focal points of the building is the movable 44-ton ceiling which can close off either the Flying Balcony or both the Flying Balcony and Grand Tier creating a one, two or three level auditorium.
Located in Goodrich Lobby and weighing in excess of 40 tons are the 27 chrome Witzman Counterweights which balance the ceiling in the house and are computer controlled. The configuration of the counterweights determines the position of the ceiling in the house. The entire transformation takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. The theatre has the ability of being used in its legitimate theatre capacity or converted into a symphony hall with the erection of an orchestra shell.
