Dramatic lighting envelops Seattle's Marion Oliver McCaw Hall to evoke artists 'dreaming in color'

摘要

In Seattle, where diffuse daylight is often filtered through clouds and mist, a redesigned civic complex enveloped in color and light recalls a sighting of the aurora borealis. As part of a multiphase revitalization of the Seattle Center fairgrounds, LMN Architects has orchestrated a $127 million redevelopment of Marion Oliver McCaw Hall, previously called the Seattle Opera House. Framing the complex as a beacon of recharged theatrical energy is a choreographed spectacle of illumination by Leni Schwendinger Light Projects. The project upgraded the home of the Seattle Opera and Pacific Northwest Ballet by restructuring the interior plan, replacing mechanical and technical systems, and adding amenities such as a lecture hall, cafe, and lounges. To enhance exterior architectural details while promoting public interaction in the compact plaza between the hall and the nearby Phelps Center, the architects commissioned New York City artist and lighting designer Leni Schwendinger to create a site-specific work. Because the promenade links Mercer Avenue, a major city conduit, to Seattle Center, the display not only draws visitors to the theater but serves as a dramatic gateway to the 74-acre landmark campus.