Austin Gets Into The Arts

In May of 2005, when you drove past the intersection of Barton Springs Road, Riverside Drive, and South Lamar, you saw the 47 year old Municipal Palmer Auditorium. Three years later the building was dismantled and rebuilt as Austin's new home for the Fine Arts, the Joe R. & Teresa Lozano Long Center for the Performing Arts.

In December of 2003, the Long Center's Board of Trustees approved Team Haas Architects, who merged with Nelsen Partners Architects, as lead architects. Stan Hass credits the uncovering of a historic black-and-white photograph from the Palmer’s original construction process he viewed at Austin Historic Center as the "light-bulb" moment that led to his design. The dramatic circular ring beam that is exposed on the Lady Bird Lake side is the original ring beam that supported Palmer's dome. The beam disappeared when the building was completed; Haas liked its distinctiveness and originality. "It says everything about what the Long Center is now and what Palmer was in its time," he stated.

The exposed beam now frames a 30,000 square-foot sweeping plaza, The City Terrace that provides an incredible view of the continually changing Austin Downtown Skyline. I personally know that the downtown view is most spectacularly seen from the balcony lobby of Dell Hall!

Haas and his team found ways to reuse 65 percent of the materials from the original Palmer and the new structure. Steel, concrete, dirt, and glass, were reused including Philippine mahogany panels from Palmer's offices salvaged to line the AT&T Education Room. The black-and-white marble from an extinct Italian quarry in the new bathroom sinks came from the old buildings bathroom partitions. The towering brick structure that houses the stage and backstage areas is one of the largest stage houses in Texas. The Dell Hall and Rollins Theatre all fits within the Palmer's original footprint.

One of the most striking 'uses of reuse' is the green and brown painted aluminum tiles that were the original roof of Palmer's dome. They cover some of the exterior walls, decorate some interior walls, and panel the elevators for a 'first hand' personal touch, hail dents and all.

One of the most innovative features in the Dell Hall is the "transparent" balconies. They are built with a system of louvers that allow sound to pass through the balconies eliminating the acoustic dead zones in many other large halls. The acoustic quality of Dell Hall is the most spectacular sound of any venue in Austin, from any seat!

Along with all of the performing arts, symphony, opera, and ballet, in the coming season, you can see performances ranging from Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy for family fun, music from Marvin Hamlisch for the romantic type, to upbeat performances from Drumline Live! and traditional China captured in the dance show, Jungua. The Long Center will be an important entertainment center for Austin and Central Texas. It will contribute to the economic future of Austin, increase tourism, contribute to the growth of downtown, and further boost Austin's image as one of the nation's "best cities."

I can’t fail to mention the first impression you will get is from the friendly, well dressed, attractive and handsome ushers that will greet and seat you as you enter the building. They will earnestly make you feel welcome to be there, confidently answer any questions, and assist in making your visit a thoroughly pleasant experience! I know that for a fact, as I am one of those Ushers. Come 'down to the river' for a most entertaining evening!