chicago ILLINOIS

paul PREISSNER ARCHITECTS, LIMITED: by developing the plaza as a choreographed series of meetings and outdoor performance spaces, the proposal for sundsvall is able to reach from the historic art center to the advancement of the city/river. the theater offers a gradient of moments, from the impromptu participations in the plaza, to the formal performances within the hall.

location: sundsvall, sweden
client: steen&strom sverige ab, the municipality of sundsvall
program: arts centre, dance theatre, city plaza, parking
area: 16,000 sm
status: design 2008

the project lifts itself off the ground plane to allow for entry under its massing, providing a processional entry that culminates in the interior atrium which allows movement at multiple levels. the new theater connects to the existing kunsthall through the central lobby, and divides the performance halls into two wings: one for the formalized main theater, and the other for experimental performance, recitals, and administration.

daalma is constructed from a combination of in-situ concrete slabs and bearing walls, along with a steel structural cage to provide rigidity and develop the exterior massing. the facade of the theaters consist of reflective glass at the atriums, and machine cut stone tiles, to offer the appearance of a soft project, while providing the durability and elegance of stone. the stone facade further extends the rich contextual history of material in the city, while offering forward thoughts on its formalization. the interior is covered in a similar geometric tiling of local stained wood, continuing the diagrammatic clarity but offering a warm interior. the plaza consists of stone pavers, reflecting pools and plantings.