Overture Center
Madison, Wis.
Cesar Pelli & Associates

Overture Center is a veritable symphony of spaces

© Jeff Goldberg/Esto

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In July 1998, Wisconsin businessman W. Jerome Frautschi announced a major civic gift to improve the cultural arts facilities in downtown Madison, Wis. Called the Overture Project, it is a privately funded initiative to promote excellence in the arts and stimulate the rejuvenation of the city's downtown district. As part of the larger Overture Project, the Overture Center is transforming the current Civic Center block by remodeling and expanding existing cultural facilities and adding new ones. Phased construction began in the spring of 2001 and is due to finish in 2005.

Overture Hall, Cesar Pelli's major new 2,250-seat performance venue located on the corner of Fairchild and Mifflin Streets, provides unobstructed sight lines, comfortable seating, excellent acoustics, and state-of-the-art technical support for the Madison Symphony Orchestra, the Madison Opera and other local groups and touring productions.

Elsewhere in the Overture Center, The Oscar Mayer Theatre–formerly the Capital Theater, built in 1927, and renovated into the Oscar Meyer in 1980–is being renovated once again. The space is being transformed into a mid-size performance venue with seats for 415 people in the orchestra level and 375 in the balcony. The renovation will also improve acoustics and sight lines as well as add more comfortable seating, a new lobby, and improved support spaces for theater, music, dance, jazz, film, and community uses. The Isthmus Playhouse will be completely renovated to provide a 350-seat thrust theater for the Madison Repertory Theatre and other community groups. The stage and back-of-house support areas will be enlarged and traditional theater seating will be added. Three flexible black box facilities are included to meet the needs of various art groups. Performers will primarily use these spaces for rehearsals, but the rooms can also accommodate small performances, banquets, and receptions.

Also as part of the project, The Madison Art Center is being expanded through the remodeling of some existing spaces and new construction. The renovated museum will include a 220-seat lecture hall and expanded gallery spaces, including a new gallery to be dedicated to the display of the permanent collection. Nearby, The Civic Center Crossroads, which internally connects State and North Henry Streets, will be maintained but simplified. A new glass facade will allow south light into the Henry Street entrance. An escalator will be added inside and some existing stairs and ramps will be removed. Located in the lower level of the Rotunda, a new amphitheater for the “Kids in the Crossroads” programs and other community uses will provide an inviting venue at the heart of the Overture Project.

Formal name of Project:
Overture Center

Location:
Madison, Wis.

Gross square footage:
278,000 sq. ft. (phase I)

Total construction cost:
$111 Million Phase I)

Owner:
Overture Foundation

Architect:
Cesar Pelli & Associates
1056 Chapel Street
New Haven, CT 06510
203.777.2515 (phone)
203.787.2856 (fax)
www.cesar-pelli.com