{"id":1079,"date":"2008-08-27T14:33:36","date_gmt":"2008-08-27T21:33:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/?p=1079"},"modified":"2013-02-07T19:01:31","modified_gmt":"2013-02-08T03:01:31","slug":"schnitzer-hall-upgrades","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/2008\/08\/27\/schnitzer-hall-upgrades\/","title":{"rendered":"schnitzer hall upgrades?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\u00c2\u00a9<\/a>
\u00c2\u00a9 Charles Noble<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This was in today’s Daily Journal of Commerce<\/a>:<\/p>\n

Changes in store for Schnitz, Main Street
\nNew RFP issued by MERC calls for designs of an \u00e2\u20ac\u02dciconic venue\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 next to hall to transform Main Street<\/p>\n

POSTED: 04:00 AM PDT Monday, August 25, 2008
\nBY SAM BENNETT<\/p>\n

The Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall is ready for a makeover.<\/p>\n

The 80-year-old concert hall, formerly the Paramount Theatre, has a tight lobby when filled with people, cramped seating and a shortage of women\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s restrooms, according to Robyn Williams, executive director of the Portland Center for the Performing Arts.<\/p>\n

PCPA is part of the Metropolitan Exposition Recreation Commission (MERC), a subsidiary of Metro. MERC oversees the PCPA as well as the Oregon Convention Center and Portland Expo Center.<\/p>\n

To address concerns about the concert hall, MERC is planning a two-part project that would fix its inadequacies and also explore developing a structure next to the hall on Southwest Main Street, between Southwest Broadway and Southwest Park Avenue.<\/p>\n

A recently released request for proposals, issued by MERC, seeks architects \u00e2\u20ac\u0153to design both a significant expansion to the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall and the creation of a new iconic venue transforming Main Street between the concert hall and the Antoinette Hatfield Hall in a cultural center and pedestrian plaza.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

The RFP calls for a facility on Main Street that \u00e2\u20ac\u0153could be used to host small classes, seminars and public outreach programs in a cultural arts district setting.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Williams said the winning architecture firm would \u00e2\u20ac\u0153look at what\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s possible and what\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not possible\u00e2\u20ac\u009d in terms of upgrades to the hall, informally known as the Schnitz, and construction on or over Main Street.<\/p>\n

Possibilities for Main Street could include a restaurant or additional performance space, Williams said. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know if we can close Main Street or build something over it,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she said. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We want to do something that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s in the best interest of the arts.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

The Schnitz is overdue for improvements, according to Williams. MERC wants the winning firm to study possible acoustic improvements and a seismic upgrade to the Schnitz.<\/p>\n

She said some of the improvements, such as acoustic changes, would be made to improve the symphony-goer\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s experience.<\/p>\n

Elaine Calder, president of the Oregon Symphony Association, said the symphony wants to know \u00e2\u20ac\u0153what can be accomplished by way of acoustic enhancements and physical improvements to the auditorium.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153As the major tenant of the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, we are of course vitally interested in the planned improvements,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she said. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Patron amenities are important to us and to our audiences, and so is the actual musical experience.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

The RFP is broken into two phases: in the first phase, MERC will seek qualified architects, and in the second phase MERC will ask three firms to participate in a conceptual design competition \u00e2\u20ac\u0153for design of an iconic Main Street venue.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

A 2005 feasibility study, according to the RFP, determined that the Schnitz and the Hatfield Hall would benefit from new construction on Main Street, by providing a new cultural center. The Schnitz would also need renovations and enhancements that would help the overall \u00e2\u20ac\u0153building design and public experience,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d it states.<\/p>\n

The Schnitz was built in 1928 as a venue for vaudeville and showing movies. It remained a movie theater until 1972 and then became a concert hall. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 and received a major renovation in 1984. The building was designed by the firm Rapp and Rapp, in the Italian Renaissance style. It seats 2,700.<\/p>\n

Williams said the winning design firm will need to explore what can be done with the block-long stretch of Main Street, which currently can be closed off with gates for special events. As for the Schnitz, she said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re looking at how to make this a good, vital home for the arts and how to keep the facility vital for the next 20 years.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What is most sad about this, to me, is that if Elaine Calder hadn’t been solicited to comment for this article, there would have been no mention of the acoustics of the hall whatsoever.\u00c2\u00a0 It’s not the worst hall in the world, but it’s rapidly falling behind the class of the orchestra which it houses.\u00c2\u00a0 That having been said (and duly noted, I hope) front of house amenities have been sorely lacking, and some sort of major overhaul is needed.\u00c2\u00a0 I hope that plans will soon be underway to figure out where the symphony will perform while this is being done!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This was in today’s Daily Journal of Commerce: Changes in store for Schnitz, Main Street New RFP issued by MERC calls for designs of an \u00e2\u20ac\u02dciconic venue\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 next to hall to transform Main Street POSTED: 04:00 AM PDT Monday, August 25, 2008 BY SAM BENNETT The Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall is ready for a makeover. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":303,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[103,115,71,25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1079","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fundraising","category-music","category-politics","category-portland"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pa8kC-hp","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":7125,"url":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/2011\/12\/09\/st-paul-expands-existing-hall-for-orchestra\/","url_meta":{"origin":1079,"position":0},"title":"st. paul expands existing hall for orchestra","author":"Charles Noble","date":"December 9, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"The situation in St. Paul, MN reminds me of the scheduling problems with the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall here in Portland. I wonder what the economic impact of an added concert hall in downtown Portland would be. By providing a new home for the SPCO, the renovation will free up\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "the orchestra world"","block_context":{"text":"the orchestra world","link":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/category\/music\/the-orchestra-world\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":7384,"url":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/2012\/03\/09\/saturday-is-viola-night\/","url_meta":{"origin":1079,"position":1},"title":"saturday is viola night","author":"Charles Noble","date":"March 9, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"It's a duel between two violists this saturday night: teacher vs. student in a cross park blocks skirmish. At Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall is the student: violist Lauren Siess plays the great Viola Concerto of William Walton with the Portland Youth Philharmonic under music director David Hattner. Across the park\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "soloists & recitals"","block_context":{"text":"soloists & recitals","link":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/category\/music\/soloists-recitals\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":729,"url":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/2008\/02\/01\/acoustic-phenomenon\/","url_meta":{"origin":1079,"position":2},"title":"acoustic phenomenon","author":"Charles Noble","date":"February 1, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Photo credit: Charles Noble It's amazing, how different things can sound just by moving a few feet in any direction. I was up in the balcony this morning as the Adams Chamber Symphony was being rehearsed. I started in the Dress Circle. Ok sound, nothing super, couldn't hear the keyboard,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "music"","block_context":{"text":"music","link":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/category\/music\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"arlene schnitzer concert hall","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/02\/5397030_e656dc7e35_m.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":6934,"url":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/2011\/09\/29\/oregon-symphony-carnegie-program-recording\/","url_meta":{"origin":1079,"position":3},"title":"oregon symphony carnegie program recording","author":"Charles Noble","date":"September 29, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"The Oregon Symphony's recording (made live in Portland from two performances at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall) of its acclaimed Carnegie Hall program is up for pre-order on Amazon.com. It's being released for shipment on October 25th. The Pentatone label is producing the disc, and they are known for their extraordinary\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "recordings"","block_context":{"text":"recordings","link":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/category\/music\/recordings-music\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/41e3LySuTxL._SL500_AA300_.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":495,"url":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/2007\/10\/17\/losing-ground\/","url_meta":{"origin":1079,"position":4},"title":"losing ground?","author":"Charles Noble","date":"October 17, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"David Stabler reports this morning that the Oregon Bach Festival will open its 2008 season by performing a concert (Bach's B-minor Mass) at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland.\u00c2\u00a0 What next?\u00c2\u00a0 Will the Eugene Symphony start a series in the Oregon Symphony's home hall?\u00c2\u00a0 The Seattle Symphony?\u00c2\u00a0 It's frustrating,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "the orchestra world"","block_context":{"text":"the orchestra world","link":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/category\/music\/the-orchestra-world\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":21995,"url":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/2021\/10\/01\/opening-weekend\/","url_meta":{"origin":1079,"position":5},"title":"opening weekend","author":"Charles Noble","date":"October 1, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"View from the office from the stage at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Oct. 1, 2021. It's here. Opening weekend of the Oregon Symphony's 2021-2022 season. Many of us had doubts that we'd even come to this place, with the uncertainties of the pandemic and all its attendant difficulties of fundraising,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "concert preview"","block_context":{"text":"concert preview","link":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/category\/music\/concert-preview\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/IMG_4764.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/IMG_4764.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/IMG_4764.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/IMG_4764.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/IMG_4764.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1079","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/303"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1079"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1079\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1079"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1079"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1079"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}