The Buxton Center for Bainbridge Performing Arts
Location
Bainbridge Island, Washington
Owner
Bainbridge Performing Arts
General Contractor: Carley Construction
Acoustics, A/V and Theater Planning: Arup
Theater Planning: Shalleck Collaborative Inc.
Structural Engineering: Lund Opsahl LLC
MEP Engineering: PAE Consulting Engineers
Civil Engineering: Saez Consulting Engineers
Landscape Architecture: Groundswell Studio
Lighting Design: Luma Lighting Design
Project Size
New area: 5,400 square feet
Renovated area: 11,300 square feet
Seating Capacity
219 auditorium
Project Status
Completed
Services
Architecture, Interior Design, Planning, Renovation + Adaptive Reuse
The Buxton Center provides a new connection to the civic heart of the island by reorienting its entry sequence to the axial plan of Town Square. A wood and glass curtain wall encloses the two-story lobby space, immersing patrons in the lush woodland landscape below a canopy of towering conifers, and at night, creating a welcoming beacon of activity.
A dramatic wave-form roof and ceiling plane of expressed wood structure ties together the new program spaces and gives the building a clear identity. The auditorium has been fully overhauled with a reconfigured seating bowl with sound and light locks, better sightlines, and improved accessibility for all patrons. The Buxton Center is set to reinvigorate the local arts community and continue enriching the cultural heart of Bainbridge Island.
Photography: Lara Swimmer
