Gaillard makeover gets BAR approval
Dec 17, 2010
Source: postandcouier.com
By: Robert Behre
The $142 million plan to convert the Gaillard Municipal Auditorium into a premier concert hall flanked by better exhibition space and new city offices won warm applause but not rave reviews Thursday night.
After a special meeting of Charleston's Board of Architectural Review, Chairman Craig Bennett, Jr. (center) and Michael Maher, director of the city's Civic Design Center, listen to architect David Schwarz on Thursday elaborate on his concept for the major redesign of the Gaillard.
As the curtain closed, Charleston's Board of Architectural Review voted 6-1 to give the design conceptual approval -- meaning it agreed with its height and scale and how its shapes fit into the surrounding neighborhood.
The special 2 1/2-hour-long meeting, held inside the Gaillard's exhibition hall, drew about 100 people who appeared split about the design offered by David M. Schwarz Architects.
Proponents said it marked a vast improvement over the 1968 light-colored brick building and would be a traditional, sensitive addition to the historic city.
Opponents offered a mix of concerns, such as a lack of improvement to the Alexander Street facade, too little relief in a vast George Street facade that would stretch for a football field and a half, and a potentially disruptive loading dock on Anson Street.
The city has worked with arts groups and private donors on the Gaillard Center plan, which would create a state-of-the-art 1,800-seat performance hall that would replace the existing 2,730-seat auditorium. It also would include a grand central lobby, enlarged exhibition space and new city offices for about 120 employees.
For projects this large, Board of Architectural Review approval is at least a three-part process, with later votes dealing with such issues as the specific details on materials, ornamentation, color, signage and fine-tuning elements of the design.
At issue Thursday for the autonomous board was a big step -- the basic size of the building and how it would appear from Calhoun, Anson, George and Alexander streets.
Winslow Hastie of the Historic Charleston Foundation called the way the building's Calhoun Street facade meshes with the neighboring parking garage "awkward and troublesome." He also said the George Street facade could use at least two more doors to break it up.
Robert Gurley of the Preservation Society criticized the new office space planned along George Street. "It begins to hulk onto Ansonborough," he said. "We don't think it's a very friendly approach."
Board member Eddie Fava, an architect, appeared to agree. He cast the sole vote against the project, saying the Calhoun Street entrance could use more massing, while the George Street facade could use less.
But board member Robert Stockton disagreed, noting that moving the office space around to Calhoun Street would infringe on the open space enjoyed by Buist Academy students and other groups.
"I don't think you can break this building apart," Stockton said. "I think it has to be all that it is."
Schwarz said he agreed with much of the criticism but said his design was constrained by what the city wanted included inside, as well as by a tight budget that necessitated reusing as much of the existing building as possible.
Gaillard goals
The city of Charleston is trying to accomplish a lot in this $142 million makeover of its auditorium, including the following 11 points:
- Create a world-class performance hall
- Add better accommodations (restrooms, etc.) for the audience
- Bring the building up to current code
- Make it comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act
- Improve the building's banquet hall
- Consolidate city offices
- Enhance the city's urbanism
- Improve pedestrian access through the site
- Align the design with Charleston's history
- Develop responsibly by considering sustainability, reusing as much of the building as possible and keeping costs down
- Engage community and arts groups in the design
Architect and board member Chris Schmidt said he studied closely a three-dimensional model because the building's complexities are difficult to discern from the drawings.
"The fact that it's not perfect makes it somewhat more honest in allowing it to express its history and how it's changed over time," Schmidt said. "That's something very characteristic of Charleston. ... Over time, we embrace those changes and flaws in the design."
Board member Robert DeMarco, who lives just south of the project, likened it to the elegant concert halls of Vienna.
His Ansonborough neighbors were strongly split on whether the project should go forward. Several, including Historic Ansonborough Neighborhood Association President Kirk Grant, offered strong critiques and urged a delay, while others such as Pat Jones urged approval and praised the architects for meeting frequently with residents.
Board members seem less concerned that the proposed design would make little change to the Alexander Street facade, save for a new addition that would extend toward the corner at Alexander and George.
Schwarz said he would have liked to expand the performance hall's backstage area that borders on Alexander Street, but that would cost an extra $20 million -- more than the city and donors think they can raise. Instead, his design leaves it largely as is, though obscured with a few more new trees.
Spoleto General Director Nigel Redden said the Gaillard's backstage area isn't a big problem now -- the problem is the Gaillard's front of the house space, the space used by the audience. The city hopes the Alexander facade could be expanded and improved at some future date.
"I am thrilled with this project," Redden told the board. "I can't tell you how thrilled I am about it."