| The 650 seat Ruth
Seaton James Auditorium is part of the $60 million
Cedar Bridge Academy in Bermuda It is the largest and
best equipped performing arts space on the island;
one of the principal venues for the annual Bermuda
Festival. The project started out as a renovation of
the existing Ruth Seaton James auditorium. After a
full set of acoustical measurements in the extisting
room and a substantial renovation design process, it
was decided to scap the existing building and replace
it with an entirely new one. In so doing, the acoustically
problematic fan shaped plan was abandonned for a more
favourable rectangular format. A shallow, wrap around
balcony provides a more intimate connection between
the audience and performer. Facia of the side
balconies have been designed to direct early
reflected sound towards the back of the room where it
is needed most.
In addition to the 650
seat auditorium, the new “mega-school”
includes music rehearsal space, music classroom, a
wide range of computer labs, gymnasia, etc. The
school opened on 15 September 1997.
|
Acoustically,
and aesthetically, the Ruth Seaton James is a
performing arts centre that Bermuda can be
proud of.
The Bermuda Festival
|
|
C.A.
Ventin Architects
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