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JOAN
& IRWIN JACOBS CENTER
AT LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
LA JOLLA, CALIFORNIA
Photography: PJ Photography, Arturo
Yanez, Michael Rotondi
CMACN 2005 Awards Edition, “CMU Profiles in Architecture”
Jury
Comments: It is difficult, if not impossible, not
to notice and admire the undulating wall of the black box
theater component of this project. Carefully corbelled by
skilled hands, the concrete unit masonry wall takes on the
appearance of a dark, near fluid surface. Juxtaposed against
the rationality of the smaller masonry volumes and
curvilinear roof, this essential box asserts a new found
public presence.
The La Jolla Playhouse and the University of California in
San Diego (UCSD) collaborated to build a play development
and education center located in the Theater District of the
campus. The project enhances the capabilities of the
independent La Jolla Playhouse to develop and stage
professional theatrical productions and will support the
instructional programs of the UCSD Department of Theater and
Dance.
The Facility will act as an experimental state-of-the-art fully-flexible laboratory for artists and educators. The center consists of a 450-seat black box theater, three classroom/ rehearsal spaces, outdoor public spaces, restaurant, technical and storage support spaces and permanent artistic and administrative home for the La Jolla Playhouse.
Within its three building sections built of concrete masonry and steel frame, the Center maintains fundamental design principles, including honesty in materials. Concrete masonry was selected as the main perimeter wall material in response to practical, economic and aesthetic considerations. Acoustical isolation for all performing and teaching spaces dictated the use of a wall material that could perform well at lower frequencies. Consequently, concrete masonry was chosen as the most cost-effective solution.
Integral color, inspired from a composite of natural site materials, was used in the enclosure of the black box theatre and the main rehearsal room to create interest and accentuate these volumes. Additionally, 4” high block was used in the black box enclosure, utilizing the tradition of corbelling in a more contemporary and innovative manner. The lines of the stacked masonry are non-parallel, creating parabolic surfaces that diminish parallax on the interior, while creating an undulating “mask” on the exterior that appears to be in a dynamic state, reflecting the movement in performance within. The offices and rehearsal rooms with their straight walls are an exposition of the many subtle patterns created by masonry units laid in a variety of ways with minor plane offsets.
ARCHITECTS:
FSY/RoTo, a joint venture
FSY
Architects, Inc.
3235 San Fernando Road,
Suite 2C
Los Angeles, CA 90065
Arturo
Yanez, AIA
Principal
RoTo
Architects
600 Moulton Avenue,
uite 405
Los Angeles, CA 90031
Michael
Rotondi, FAIA
Principal
Ellery
Brown
Owner Representative
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER:
Nabih Youssef & Associates
GENERAL CONTRACTOR:
Rudolph & Sletten
MASONRY CONTRACTOR:
Dittman Masonry, Inc.
BLOCK PRODUCER:
RCP Block & Brick, Inc.
OWNER:
La Jolla Playhouse/University of California, San Diego
