TOM PATTERSON THEATRE

LOCATION Stratford, Ontario ARCHITECT Hariri Pontarini Architects

Selected from an international competition of 92 entries, the design for the new Tom Patterson Theatre at the Stratford Festival is a striking presence along the banks of the Avon River. The theatre is located on the site of the former Tom Patterson Theatre, a converted curling rink. The new building aspires to be a cultural beacon that defines the next 50 years of this significant cultural institution.

The new building aimed not only to provide what the previous one lacked, but to also pay homage to its memory. The new venue expands the technical capabilities of live theatre and wraps itself in amenity-rich spaces, establishing an immersive, social experience that revolves around and complements the magic of the performing arts.

A shimmering façade ebbs and flows in step with the river. This curvilinear form creates quiet folds and eddies of encounter across a sequence of spacious public rooms that course from one to the next. Panoramic garden and river views dissolve the line between indoors and out.

At the heart of the building, the horseshoe-shaped auditorium is enclosed in curving walls of light-coloured brick. Inside the wood-lined room, 600 custom-designed seats surround an elongated thrust stage inspired by the dimensions of the previous stage. The acoustics and sightlines create an experience of true intimacy and connection between audience and performer.

Craftsmanship and attention to detail serve to impart an emotional resonance that aligns with the festival’s ambition to engage its community. Education programs now have a permanent home in this theatre. For donor patrons, the members’ lounge features a contemporary fireplace in a dramatic space with wraparound glazing that tapers beneath a woodclad ceiling. The building has a complement of back-of-house amenities, which, like the public spaces and auditorium, are fully accessible.

A 250-seat program space adds versatility: it can extend the lobby, or acoustically enclose a forum for concurrent performances and other events. Throughout the gathering areas, the breadth of the design creates multiple vantage points to heighten the relationship between the interior, the gardens and river. Elevating the building above a passing road allows for uninterrupted views to the natural setting.

Rare for performing arts buildings, this theatre is highly sustainable. It targets LEED Gold certification through carefully integrated energy and water conservation programs within a high-performance building envelope. The double-glazed curtainwall with bird-friendly frit is north-facing, reducing solar heat gain. Durable building materials prioritize renewable and recycled content. To build the stage in the preferred material, a birch tree woodlot was purchased for sustainable harvest. Stage lighting is one of the first energy-efficient, all-LED systems in use. Landscaping of new civic gardens features indigenous and drought-resistant plant species, and new pathways and bike lanes connect with existing routes.

This theatre marks a milestone for the festival as it enters its 70th year. Earlier venues supported the festival’s emergence. Now, the new Tom Patterson Theatre is poised to play a leading role in the festival’s future.

:: Jury :: The jury lauded this exceptional cultural building located by the water. They noted an excellent integration with the site and promenade. The nature of materials, organic forms and textures promotes sensory perception and contributes to the appreciation of the arts. The elegant assembly creates a calm and inspiring atmosphere inside and outside the enclosure.

CLIENT STRATFORD FESTIVAL | ARCHITECT TEAM SIAMAK HARIRI, LINDSAY HOCHMAN, DORON MEINHARD, ANNE MA, JEFF STRAUSS, STEFAN ABIDIN, MIREN ETXEZARRETA-ARANBURU, LEANDRO ABUNGIN, STEVE KANG, ANNA ANTROPOVA, JIMMY FARRINGTON | CONTRACTOR ELLISDON | LANDSCAPE HARIRI PONTARINI ARCHITECTS WITH HOLBROOK & ASSOCIATES WITH THE PLANNING PARTNERSHIP | STRUCTURAL THORNTON TOMASETTI | MECHANICAL/ELECTRICAL ARUP | THEATRE PLANNER FISHER DACHS ASSOCIATES | ACOUSTICS AERCOUSTICS ENGINEERING | A/V NOVITA TECHNE LIMITED | LIGHTING MARTIN CONBOY LIGHTING DESIGN | LEED RDH | BUDGET $70 M | OCCUPANCY MAY 2020 OPPOSITE The new theatre is a jewel-like presence along the Avon River. TOP At the core of the building, the theatre is structured around an extended thrust stage—a signature innovation in stagecraft developed at the Stratford Festival fifty years ago. BOTTOM Landscape-facing gathering spaces surround the theatre, allowing for an enhanced guest experience.