Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Berkeley, Calif.
ELS Architecture and Urban Design

Straightforward architecture reflects this Repertory Theatre’s spare acting style

© Timothy Hursley

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Opened in 2001, the new Berkeley Repertory Theatre (the Rep) is visually and spiritually in keeping with its older sibling, the existing, 400-seat Berkeley Repertory Theatre. The two theaters connect through a new common outdoor courtyard and possess brick exteriors. However, their similarities end there. The scale of the new Rep is far grander than the former one. Despite the new building’s traditional brickwork it is decidedly modern, inside and out.

The theater's directors and staff collaborated with the architects on the design of the new 600-seat theater, closely integrating the building program and performance needs. Rough textured surfaces of board-formed concrete, theatrical light fixtures, and an exposed roof structure reflect the Rep's spare, revealing acting style. While most theaters have a decorated proscenium, the Rep has a simple framework for lighting and sound equipment.

The warehouse aesthetic—with epic space, more technical capability, and greater seating capacity—is countered by an architecture so compact that the seat furthest away is no more than 49 feet from the stage. Taking advantage of the tight available footprint (the site is 127 feet deep), the stage depth was maximized for performance, the audience chamber compressed for intimacy, and the lobby's minimal depth increased through a strong visual connection to the street. The dramatic three-story lobby and stair parallel the street and overlook the sidewalk.

The City of Berkeley provided funding for this theater as a catalyst project that would launch the new Addison Street Arts District and draw people into Berkeley's downtown at night. The result is the transformation of a street with empty buildings and auto-body shops into a newly minted arts district.

Formal name of Project:
Berkeley Repertory Theatre

Location:
Berkeley, Calif.

Gross square footage:
27,893 sq. ft.

Total construction cost:
$10.4 million

Owner:
Berkeley Repertory Theatre

Architect:
ELS Architecture and Urban Design
2040 Addison Street
Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 549-2929
(510) 843-3304
www.elsarch.com