OFFICIAL - Performing Arts Center construction

[Midtownkid]

awesome!    This is such an exciting project for KC.  It will def make big arch-news.  Cover story material for sure!  KC is mentioned in Arc Record once or twice just about every issue.  Pretty cool.

[ignatius]

It's expected to be one of the top in the world when it opens in terms of acoustics, experience for musicians and attendees. The sound technician is considered the top in the world.  And then there is the unique architecture.  This would be the case for any PAC though that just opens with a big budget.  But not every city is doing something like this.  It should be effective at attracting most any musician/performer who wants to perform in a top notch facility.

[pearcejp]

I was at the downtown library for the update on the progress of the facility in early May.  Without a doubt it is going to be one of the premier PAC's in the world.  The scope of the project and the attention to detail is absolutely phenominal.  Jane Chu, Facilities Mngr at the PAC, said they have received literally hundreds of calls from all around the world of artists and musicians wanting to perform there upon completion.  The word is definitely out in the art community.

[Midtownkid]

what's up with the web cam...it is pointing upward.  It must have gotten knocked.  Who can we notify about this?  Hope they fix it soon... 

[hubert]

Can someone post a current link to the web cam?

[anniewarbucks]

http://ftp.bnim.com/

[Midtownkid]

still facing wrong place.

[PumpkinStalker]

Maybe it's intentional to prevent other architects/developers from seeing the secrets of design and acousitics!

Conspiracy! 

[GRID]

photo update:

[TheBigChuckbowski]

Does anyone know how much taller the final product is going to be compared to what is already built?

[pearcejp]

Yes.  The height of the final structure is going to be the same height as the four pillars of Bartle Hall, if they were on the same level ground.  In other words, it is going to be huge.  It will make quite an impression on the skyline to say the least.  Then once it is done, maybe all of the local news stations in town will consider changing their backround skyline pictures circa 2000 that they all use.  Sorry, a major pet peeve of mine.

[kcjak]

Can't wait to see the shell going up!!

I never realized how 'obtrusive' Webster House is on the site...there could be some cool photo ops with Webster House in the foreground and PAC in the background.

[Gretz]

Does anyone know if that excavation in the front is the beginnings of the garage?  Can't figure out why they would need to be working that deep that far out front otherwise; seems like the "lawn" is supposed to be gradually sloping down the hill, not dropping off like that...

[moderne]

Don't see how the final height could equal the Bartle pylons(about 250 feet).  The diagrams of the opera house show the shell to be about one and a half times the height of the proscenium arch.  There will not be a sloping lawn, but a stairstepped terrace above the garage, similar to the Crown Center east garage.

[kcjak]

Does anyone know if that excavation in the front is the beginnings of the garage?  Can't figure out why they would need to be working that deep that far out front otherwise; seems like the "lawn" is supposed to be gradually sloping down the hill, not dropping off like that...

I believe the 'lawn' is actually supposed to be terraced steppes, rather than a gradual drop.

[schugg]

Then once it is done, maybe all of the local news stations in town will consider changing their backround skyline pictures circa 2000 that they all use.  Sorry, a major pet peeve of mine.

same here.

[KCBoom]

Just took a tour of the construction site.  Gotta say that this is going to be a very impressive venue.  The overall scale of the project on the outside is very large and, as we all know, will have a dramatic impact on our skyline from the south.  What blew me away was the intimacy of each hall and how close the audience will be to the performances.

They said that the highest point of the tallest "fin" will be about 30 feet below the JE Dunn tower crane and equivalent to a 16-story building.  They also mentioned that the parking garage excavation is expected to begin in 2 to 3 weeks.  The garage will NOT be terraced as shown in the renderings, but will be more of a sloping design and the greenspace on top will be a city park.  The garage will have 4 levels and is expected to be available for general public use when there is no event at the PAC. 

Also, on the north side of the building along 16th Street there will be a drop-off area at street-level with greenspace.  Under that drop-off area and greenspace will be where the performers warm-up and relax.  Each performance hall is independently wrapped in 6" thick foam for accoustic purposes from the footers all the way up to above ground-level.  The designers expect the accoustics to be as good as if not better than the accoustics in the Disney PAC in Los Angeles, which is regarded as among the best in the world.  Total estimated project cost is $415 million when complete.

Structural steel should be onsite in October and we should begin to see some real shape to the building within the next 9 months.  The cable-supported glass curtain wall isn't expected to be raised until summer/fall 2009.

[geeman68]

WOWSA!

[KCMax]

The garage will NOT be terraced as shown in the renderings, but will be more of a sloping design and the greenspace on top will be a city park.  The garage will have 4 levels and is expected to be available for general public use when there is no event at the PAC.  .

[Maitre D]

They should've built this out at TSC.  1) we're putting 700M of investment out there right now anyway, and 2) lots of cheap land.


Plus highway access for regional tourists?