The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts Kansas designed by Moshe Safdie and Associates. The iconic building contains cutting edge technology providing artists a premier space to present their work. The buildings dominant shell forms contain two large auditoriums, the muriel kauffman theatre and helzberg hall. Architectural details provide advanced acoustic elements for high quality performances and ample seating for spectators.

The three balconies envelop the hall in a horseshoe-like enclosure. Each balcony is broken down into a series of steps cascading from the center rear balcony to the individual boxes on either side of the stage. The stepping enhances sightlines and provides for a sense of intimacy and connection with the action on the stage. The balcony balustrades are a contemporary reinterpretation of the gilded, glittering, candle-lit balconies of 18th and 19th century theaters. The lights reflect through the glass-like enclosure to form an ever-changing chandelier-like surface.

The hall’s acoustic enclosure is composed of undulating walls, shaped like vertical stacked barrels and designed by Toyota for optimal sound reflection. To integrate these shapes into the whole, a series of slats provide a screen-like enclosure. A series of murals, conceived and designed by the students of the Kansas City Art Institute, are painted and illuminated directly on the acoustical structures. The overall effect is of a dynamic mural, rich in reds, greens, blues and yellows, fused into the geometry of the room.

Architects : Moshe Safdie and Associates
Location    : Kansas City, Missouri, USA

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