New World Center
Miami Beach, FloridaSeat Count: 756
Project type: New Construction
Opening: 2010
Construction Cost: $160 Million
Architect: Gehry Partners, LLP
Theatrical Consulting: Theatre Projects
AD Scope: Audio, Video &
Internet2 AV Design
The New World Symphony was founded by Michael Tilson Thomas to train top young musicians for orchestral careers. The new 100,641 sq. ft. campus includes a 756-seat concert hall, and a multi-purpose room that serves both as the primary teaching space for the orchestra and a pre-concert space for lectures and events. A number of other rehearsal and teaching classrooms, along with public lobby spaces, backstage support and administrative offices are also included.
More than an innovative design or a state-of-the-art facility, this performance space envelops people in experience. The symphony plays in a room wrapped with a collage of suspended, overlapping projection screen panels that function to enhance orchestral performances with informational video content, video scenery, vocal text translations and digital-video compositions or projected “sets” for musical-theatre works. The main-floor seats can also be removed allowing for a dozen possible performance modes.
The entire facility is wired with Internet2, which is 100,000 times faster than the broadband in use today and is designed to facilitate broadcasts, Internet transmissions and long-distance learning techniques already utilized by the symphony. This connectivity via I2 allows a violinist to receive training from a master teacher half the globe away. An entire orchestra can receive feedback from a composer—while the composer remains in his studio.
Every event in the new space will be digitally recorded through one of the 3 Protools recording suites and the HD video production room, allowing all content to be accessible to the Fellows via the campus network; making this one of the most advanced educational tools for training concert musicians. On the exterior of the building is a 7,000 square foot projection surface which faces the West 8-designed public park for outdoor viewing.
AD provided design services for all audio and video systems, which were closely coordinated with the inspirational architecture, theatrical lighting and rigging, stage machinery, and acoustics.
