|
The 2047 seat Raffi Armenian Theatre is the focal
point of Centre-in-the-Square, which opened in 1980. The Centre
also includes an art gallery and a flexible space studio theater
that seats over 300. The Artec-designed concert theatre enjoys a
high reputation for its acoustics for symphony, opera, speech and
drama performances. The hall's innovative theatre design has also
been highly praised.
The Raffi Armenian Theatre is equipped with movable
stage towers that form the orchestra shell. The towers, which weigh
approximately seven tons each, are moved on "air bearings".
They can be turned so that the side facing the orchestra can accommodate
either additional audience seating in boxes or serve as timber-clad
sound reflectors. The Raffi Armenian Theatre was one of the first
halls in the world to use these signature Artec design features
for concert theatres.
Another feature is a high degree of flexibility
in the forestage zone. By using two forestage lifts and motorized
seating wagons, it is possible to quickly transform this area to
accommodate the concert platform, the orchestra pit (in which 110
musicians can be seated), or additional seating. These features
help to make it possible for opera, symphony, rock and roll, dance,
and musical theater to be performed with equal success in the hall.
Artec provided Design and Planning services covering
Pre-Design
Phase services, Auditorium
Design, Facility
Planning, Specialized
Performance Equipment Systems Design and Noise
& Vibration Control consulting. The architect for Centre-In-The-Square
was Rieder,
Hymmen and Lobban.
|