The David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts is one of the largest, most comprehensive community arts establishments in the United States, totaling 335,000 square feet.
With five theaters, a performing arts conservatory, a rehearsal hall, three on-site restaurants, a coffee shop and banquet facilities sprawling over a nice-acre site along Tampa’s Riverwalk, this institution provides an unprecedented experience to its patrons and students alike. When three of its most popular performance halls needed sound system upgrades, the Straz Center engaged Acentech to design their new audiovisual configurations.
Acentech collaborated with key decision makers to create the AV systems for three different venues: the 2,610-seat Carol Morsani Hall, the 1,042-seat Louise Lykes Ferguson Hall, and the 312-seat Lorena Jaeb Theatre. The daunting task to overhaul the technical equipment for each theater, so varied in size and purpose, was led by both Acentech’s acousticians and AV consultants with ease and efficiency.
Another key aspect of this upgrade involved the coordination and evaluation of loudspeaker demonstrations to allow stakeholders to see and hear potential loudspeaker solutions in the halls. Acentech developed design documents to allow AV contractors to bid equally and provided commissioning services to verify the accuracy of their installation.
Acoustical recommendations and modifications were developed for Patel Conservatory which added 45,000 square feet to its extensive arts education program. The conservatory houses 20 studios, including three dance studios with sprung floors, a sound/lighting laboratory, technical theater workshop, rehearsal hall, costume shop and a black box theater.
Acentech is very proud to contribute to Straz’s mission to provide education and avenues to members of the Tampa community so that they may experience and be involved within the arts.
