ARCHITECTURE & LANDSCAPE - New Albany Community ...
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ARCHITECTURE & LANDSCAPE A transformative addition to New Albany’s Village Center, the Charleen & Charles Hinson Amphitheater is designed to delight and inspire audiences of all ages. The open-air theater fuses architecture and landscape to create an intimate, enchanted garden setting for up to 800 guests. Situated directly adjacent to the Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts, the amphitheater also connects to civic landmarks like Rose Run Park, Market Square, and the K-12 Learning Campus. The amphitheater was designed by DLR Group, a global leader in the architecture of theaters and cultural facilities. Architect Paul Westlake, a Senior Principal at DLR based in Cleveland, has enjoyed a strong connection to New Albany since he led the design of The McCoy, which opened in 2008. In spearheading the planning and design of the Hinson Amphitheater—a multiyear, collaborative process involving public and private partners— Westlake applied his deep knowledge of theaters across the ages to address the unique character of New Albany’s Village Center. “Context is important,” Westlake said. “We’ve tried to design something that spoke to New Albany. The amphitheater is hand-cut for its site adjoining The McCoy. My hope is that the community embraces and adopts it as a comple- mentary sister building in this emerging arts district.” The opening of a cultural venue and green space at this location is compatible with New Albany’s ever-evolving master plan, which first took shape in the late 1980s guided by visionary architects Gerald McCue and Jaquelin T. Robertson, and landscape architect Laurie Olin. Beckoning through a screen of trees and greenery—with landscape architecture by Columbus-based firm MKSK—the amphitheater welcomes guests from the east and west. The east entrance plaza, embellished with red brick donor pavers, lies directly opposite the entrance of The McCoy, allowing easy passage from one venue to the other during arts festivals or inclement weather. Not by accident, the amphitheater’s capacity matches that of The McCoy’s auditorium, the Irving E. Schottenstein Theater.
The Hinson Amphitheater and The McCoy share certain formal and stylistic traits: both use gracefully curved forms to soften the lines of bulky sheds, and both incorporate Neoclassical, specifically Palladian-Georgian design elements seen throughout New Albany. The two venues were not only designed by the same architect, but also constructed by the same reputable builder, Corna Kokosing Construction Company. The company’s president, Jim Negron, knew Charlie Hinson and remembers him fondly. The overall plan of the Hinson Amphitheater comprises an iconic stagehouse facing a gentle slope with a series of three concentric seating areas. The bulk of the stagehouse, containing all the functional necessities of a theater, is disguised by ivy-covered screens, with loading bays backing onto the parking area to the north. What catches the eye is the soaring hemispherical bandshell, an arched structure made of laminated timber beams covered by a translucent stretched-fabric canopy. “It’s designed to filter daylight and to appear light and airy, even while sheltering the performers,” Westlake said. “The exposed wood brings a sense of nature and informality.” The curving beams support state-of-the-art lighting and audio equipment for live performances, as well as large screens for exhibiting films. Audience members can view the action from a number of favorable vantage points. Nearest the stage is a cozy, flexible area that can be configured for seated or standing events. The next tier is a gently sloping, crescent-shaped lawn where spectators can set up portable chairs or spread out a blanket. Encircling the lawn is the uppermost tier, an arc of tables and chairs shaded by a wood trellis and surrounded by plants and flowers. Reminiscent of ancient exedra semicircular seating areas and open loggia structures, this area accommodates social groups, with each column bay functioning like a theater box. The vine-covered pergola is supported by simple white Tuscan columns—also known as unfluted Doric columns—that match the columns used in The McCoy’s portico and wrap-around lobby. Instead of painting the wood trellis beams white, they retain a natural tone, just like the exposed wood stagehouse structure. Warm amber LEDs mounted on black steel posts create the magical ambiance of traditional gas lamps in a woodland setting. Beyond the exedra are plant and flower beds, a pathway for audience circulation, a perimeter ivy-covered fence, and a curving hedge of conifers. Turf and trees fill the remainder of the site up to the street.
It is only fitting that a theater named after Charlie Hinson should
have high-quality architecture and design. Scott Taylor, who worked
under Hinson’s tutelage and eventually became Executive Vice
President of Store Design and Construction at L Brands, now serves
on the board of the New Albany Community Foundation and
helped shepherd the design’s development and successful realization.
“Charlie Hinson was both a mentor and friend to me, so it is
particularly meaningful to be involved with the architectural design
and construction of this project. I know Charlie would have loved
The New Albany Community Foundation established The Jefferson Series to provide access to today’s most influential
it!” Taylor
thought leaders. Charleen
said. “The & promoting
Dedicated to Charles Hinson Amphitheater
lifelong learning, community will
dialogue and a greater understanding of the
serve as compelling
a uniquely beautiful
issues andTheintimate
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Jefferson Series hasthat willthousands
engaged not onlyof central Ohio students and residents of all ages
draw people to New
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of topics butglobal
including it will draw
affairs, the community
nutrition, ethics, energycloser
policy, politics, mental health and more.
together through the enjoyment of the performing arts. Our family
is proud to support it and we look forward to seeing friends at the
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
many events and performances under the stars in the amphitheater.”
The New Albany Community Foundation invites individual donors, families, corporations and foundations to
To turn the vision
participate in TheofJefferson
the amphitheater
Series as sponsorsinto ofa reality, the New
the 2020-2021 Albany
season:
Community Foundation benefitted from the generous support and
Season Sponsorships
collaboration of many public at $50,000
and private partners. Some of those
Benefits for a Season Sponsor include:
who went above and beyond to ensure the project’s success include
• Prominently positioned Season Sponsor title and logo • Season tickets for 10 guests with preferred lecture seating
the City of New Albany, in particular City Manager Joe Stefanov
included on all marketing materials for all four lectures • 10 signed copies of speaker’s book, if applicable
and his staff;
(ads, themarketing,
digital New Albany-Plain
Foundation website,Local etc.)School District led by announcement and recognition at the
• Sponsorship
Superintendent
• Recognition fromMichael Sawyers;
the stage and the Plain Township2020
at each forum FireRemarkable Evening event
Department led by Chief
• One prominently Jack
placed, full Rupp.
page Andy
ad in event Walther, a professional
program • Seats for 4 guests to the 2020 Remarkable Evening event
engineerfor the
and entire season
accomplished project manager, donated his• Prominently time and positioned logo and recognition in The
• One full page guest column in one of the event programs New Albany Community Foundation end of year annual
expertise to serve as the owner’s representative in honor of
• Tickets for 10 guests to attend a private reception with the
his late
report brochure
mother, an ardent
speaker patron with
and photographs of The McCoy.
speaker for eachArchitect
lecture Todd Mayer
skillfully managed
if photo opportunitytheis project
offered for DLR, while Project Engineer
Jessica Goodin and Project Superintendent Trey Read managed
day-to-day construction on behalf of Corna Kokosing. Many of
Speaker Sponsorships per lecture at $25,000
theseBenefits
entities for aand a few
Speaker key include:
Sponsor individuals had previously worked to-
gether• Prominently positioned SpeakerAs
to build The McCoy. New Albany Community
Sponsor title and logo • Sponsorship announcement and recognition at the
Foundation
includedPresident Craig
on all marketing Mohre
materials for remarked,
selected lecture“It was great toRemarkable
2020 have Evening event
the band back tofrom
• Recognition together
the stageagain. ”
at the selected lecture • Seats for 2 guests to the 2020 Remarkable Evening event
• One full page ad in event program for the entire season • Logo and recognition in The New Albany Community
During the design
• Tickets process,
for 6 guests to attendWestlake heardwith
a private reception Lesthe
Wexner describe
Foundation end of year annual report brochure
an outdoor theater that he had once visited, ensconced in lush foli-
speaker and photographs with speaker for selected
age andlecture if photo evening
romantic opportunitylighting.
is availableThe vision stuck with him. He
• Season tickets for 6 guests with preferred lecture seating
and the project
• 6 signed stakeholders agreed that the Hinson Amphitheater
copies of speaker’s book, if applicable
should offer such a pleasant atmosphere. And the play of nature
extends even to the recognition of donors. To recognize the
Premier
inspiring show Sponsors per lecture
of community at $10,000
support for the amphitheater, cast
Benefits for a Premier Sponsor include:
metal leaves inscribed with the names of benefactors will be
• Premier Sponsor title and logo included on all marketing • Season tickets for 4 guests with preferred lecture seating
artfully displayed amid the living ivy. •
materials for selected lecture 4 signed copies of the speaker’s book, if applicable
• Recognition from the stage at the selected lecture • Sponsorship announcement and recognition at the
Although the building is nearly ready to open, the living part of the architecture—the plants—will take time
• 1/2 page ad in event program for the entire season 2020 Remarkable Evening event
to mature.
• TicketsInforthree totofive
4 guests years,
attend Westlake
a private receptionsaid, “Everything
with the • Logois and
going to be covered
recognition in The Newin green.
Albany It’s going to be like
Community
the ancient buildings on an Ivy League campus.
speaker and photographs with speaker for selected ” The cocoon
Foundation end of year annual report brochurewill help make the
of greenery and flickering light
amphitheater a memorable
lecture if photo opportunity isplace for performances and events, he predicted. “You can’t separate emotion from
available
architecture. It’s the spirit of people coming together.”
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