Planning & Design Meetings Schematic Design Meeting #2 9/23/2010 - Minutes
Palo Alto HS THEATER SUB-COMMITTEE MEETING
Palo Alto Unified School District
23 September 2010
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PALO ALTO HIGH SCHOOL
Palo Alto Unified School District
PERFORMING ARTS CENTER SUB-COMMITTEE MEETING
DATE: 23 September 2010, 3:30 pm-5:00 pm
SUBJECT: Performing Arts Center Schematic Design, Meeting #2
ATTENDEES: Sign-in sheet (attached)
The following are the highlights of the meeting:
1. Erwin Lee (EL) welcomed the committee and noted that this meeting serves to
explain and discuss the major equipment and controls for the theater as well as
quickly recap progress made on the site and building design.
2. EL gave a power point presentation of the latest site and building design drawings.
Highlights were:
Updated landscape site plan shows the new position of the building relative to
Haymarket Theater. New position was required to avoid an existing footpath
easement that initially was thought to be in favor of the District but actually is in
favor of Stanford University. EL explained that the new location is favorable as it
opens up the rear of the Theater for foot traffic to the crosswalk at Embarcadero
and it creates a more defined edge to the new plaza in front.
Views of the new theater from the entry drive at Embarcadero and from the
corner of El Camino and Embarcadero comparing the original building position
to the new. Views show that the new position of the theater will not hide the
Haymarket Theater. The existing view is obstructed by large trees in front of
Haymarket Theater.
The revised site plan with new building position shows that about a dozen
parking spaces are lost. EL noted that these lost spaces may be recouped in
other areas such as in the triangular shaped landscape area in the main El
Camino parking lot.
Before and after bird’s eye views of the new theater and entry drive show how
each impacts the landscape, driveways and parking lot.
3. The following discussion ensued:
Stu Berman (SB) asked if the new position covers views of Haymarket Theater
more than the original. EL responded that views of Haymarket are already
impacted by the large trees while other views are not affected. SB noted that the
south façade of the new position frames the entry plaza in a good way for the
campus while the angled north façade respects Embarcadero.
Michael Najar (MN) noted that the future scene shop in Building 100 should not
be located at the northwest corner as shown on the site plan as this space was
important for the choir program. EL responded that it would remain in the
Palo Alto HS THEATER SUB-COMMITTEE MEETING
Palo Alto Unified School District
23 September 2010
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original location, at the current Home Economics classroom space.
James Hilmer (JH) noted that it was acceptable to bring scenery from the
current scene shop to the new theater’s loading yard from around the back.
Direct access from Building 100 to the theater can be by double doors in lieu of
an overhead roll-up door. The newly proposed loading yard might serve to hide
the dumpster as well as other stored items.
Aimee Lopez (AL) noted that the loss of parking with the new site scheme was
problematic. The site by the future CTE which is being downsized may provide
more space for parking.
4. Jedd de Lucia (JD) began an overview of the major equipment and controls for the
new theater and referred to his Production Systems Narrative handout. Highlights of
the discussion included:
The 4 basic groups are: production rigging systems, theater seating, AV system,
and orchestra pit.
The orchestra shell is meant to acoustically off set the height of the fly tower and
it’s composed of two parts; the walls which fold away and a ceiling which is
hoisted up into the fly tower.
JD reviewed the production lighting systems and noted that stage lighting will be
handled with motorized battens. Some pipes would employ fixed electrics to
easily distribute the lighting circuits. JH noted that ‘fixed electrics’ is convenient
but it gave no flexibility and the better option was to provide a drop boxes. JD
agreed and noted that it would provide more student training opportunities.
JD explained the stage drapery system and JH asked for a full stage black-out
drape as well as the upstage transfer track.
JD noted that the proscenium reduction system will reduce the stage opening
from 45-feet to 36-feet wide with a series of tracked panels.
JD explained that the acoustical drapery system can be operated manually, or
automatically with a series of presets. Kathleen Woods (KW) noted that the
automatic system was preferable as a theater is complicated enough to operate.
Ian Hunter (IH) noted that in lieu of the drapery system the acoustics can be
manipulated via an integrated speaker system by Meyer. The system employs
microphones that senses the sound quality and then alters it with added
reverberation as required. The system requires that the house acoustics be
initially dry because the system is limited to adding reverberation. The system is
about double the cost of the acoustical drapery system but saves costs in other
ways and it’s easy to maintain with less upkeep. It also offers more variability in
sound reverberation time than a drapery system. MH wanted to learn about it
and IH said that he would arrange a tour of a demonstration hall in Berkeley.
JD noted that the there will be 4 racks of dimmers located in a Dimmer Room
close by the stage. The computer control console will use an Ethernet protocol
but it’s compatible with the current DMX protocol now in use.
JS noted that the California Energy Code requires fluorescent lighting for
architectural lights. These will be dimmable. KW asked if LED lights would work
and IH responded that these are currently not strong enough.
Palo Alto HS THEATER SUB-COMMITTEE MEETING
Palo Alto Unified School District
23 September 2010
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JD asked if the seating required tablet arms and the group responded that these
are not required and not desirable.
5. IH reviewed the AV systems.
A left/right loudspeaker system with a center cluster would comprise the main
system and be designed for drama and music. An additional surround sound
speaker system will cover all the seats.
MN asked for a better than ‘simple’ recording system. IH noted that high quality
microphones and a multi-channel CD recorder that can be connected to a laptop
should suffice and MN agreed.
Jeff Willner (JW) noted that communication was important to the choral and
band and scene rooms in Building 100. EL suggested that conduits be stubbed
out with the theater project to accommodate the eventual Building 100
modernization.
IH noted there will be AV communication from the Ticket Booth to the Stage.
IH noted that the price of digital displays has come down and these may be
good for the lobby.
IH noted that an HD video projector will be located on an accordion style mount
beneath the catwalk. IH noted that a ‘truss frame’ style screen that provides a
smooth surface will be suspended above the stage on a rigging batten.
Podium (on stage) will have power and data for power point style presentations.
A touch-screen control system (in the control booth) will control the AV system
and will also control the variable acoustics.
6. JD asked about the program for the classroom. Following is a summary:
KW noted that the classroom was an instructional space that would be used
while the theater/stage was in use.
KW added that choir or drama could use the classroom and it may be used as a
small performance space.
JD noted that the space should have simple lighting with 24 portable dimmers.
Group asked for a mirror at one wall and white board along the other long wall.
AL noted that the classroom would also include a smart board.
JH noted that a washer/dryer will be required in the adjacent Storage Room.
AL confirmed that the classroom also needs to be flexible for use by non-theater
related classes
7. Schedule:
Next Monthly Theater Sub-Committee meeting will be scheduled for September 30th
at 3:30 PM.
Presentation to the BOE will be on October 26th.
END
Prepared by Christopher Ades of Deems Lewis McKinley. Please advise if you feel that any of the above
items are inaccurate or need further clarification or detail.
cc: Attendees, File