The new Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC) Visual and Performing Arts Center Theater recently completed its second phase of expansion and had its first performance on March 12, 2014, featuring Flipside: The Patti Page Story.
Schuler Shook provided theatre planning services. Triad Design Group, an OKC-based firm, was the architect. Jaffe Holden provided acoustic and AV services. The theater seats about 1,040 and is designed for academic and community use. The center will host touring shows through the college’s Cultural Programs office.
The venue includes an orchestra pit with pit filler system, orchestra shell, counterweight rigging system, and variable acoustic curtains. The stage lighting system is a Strand system with 384 dimmers (including architectural lighting) and network distributed throughout. Another important function is the ability to screen films; OCCC has a well-regarded film program, and Phase 1 of the project (completed in 2008) included design of the film and video studio. The venue includes an installed surround sound system and a large, stretched screen on one of the linesets. Rounding out the arts center is an art gallery located adjacent to the expansive new lobby area.
Jack Hagler , Kim Corbett Oates, Alex Robertson, and Jefferey Knox were Schuler Shook's primary theatre consultants and lighting designers for the project.