SAN FRANCISCO, CA (August 15, 1998) --Auerbach + Associates, San Francisco and New York, is the theatre consultant for the newly constructed Port Theatre, located on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, in the City of Nanaimo. The official ribbon cutting ceremony takes place on September 9th; the theatre opens for its first performance on September 18 with a performance by the Vancouver Island Symphony.

The 806-seat Port Theatre is designed as a multipurpose facility that will be a venue for a variety of local and touring performing art forms including acoustic and amplified music, drama, dance, musical theatre as well as conferences and symposia. Over 125,000 people are expected to attend some 250 events each year.

The theatre serves as a focal point for redevelopment in downtown Nanaimo, a city of 80,000 on the Central Coast of Vancouver Island. The Port Theatre overlooks the Boat Basin on the Georgia Straits and has sweeping views of Vancouver Island's scenic harbor. The building's use of wood, concrete, stucco and glass reflects the elements of seas, mountains and forest that compose the Island's natural environment.

Auerbach + Associates collaborated with the architect, Terrance Williams of Wade, Williams, Young + Wright, on the building planning and design, and provided all the performance criteria that affected the building's operation as a theatre. Auerbach + Associates' comprehensive approach to the theatre consulting for the project included needs assessment, programming, early planning, conceptual and schematic design, detailed theatrical systems design and extensive consulting with design team members as well as coordination with the trades on everything that effected the building's use as a theatre.

"To maximize the function of the Port Theatre, careful collaboration between the many design consultants was required," said Adam M. Shalleck, AIA, project manager for Auerbach + Associates.

The building was designed as an intimate community theatre, as well as an energy efficient, sustainable "green" building. The project includes a lobby, a founder's lounge, administrative offices, and complete backstage support. The theatre is built with a fly tower and wings and has a unique variable proscenium arch that can be adjusted to accommodate both drama and dance. The audience seating is arranged in small groups, with side boxes on two levels.

To support productions, the theatre includes a counterweight rigging system, computerized theatrical lighting controls, sound systems, an orchestral lift with apron stage, and theatrical draperies. The theatrical systems set an industry standard of quality, allowing for ease of change from one production to another, and can be easily adapted to future technologies.

Auerbach + Associates collaborated with Paoletti Associates Inc., the acoustical consultant, to integrate theatrical systems effectively with the acoustical systems. Adjustable sound absorbing panels and heavy velour curtains distributed around the walls and upper ceiling help change the acoustical environment from 'live' for music concerts, to 'dry' for lectures and theatre use. An extensive wiring and cabling infrastructure for audio systems will enable the theatre to accommodate and support the most sophisticated needs of theatre performance.

The Nanaimo Harbourfront Centre Theatre Society has overseen fund raising for the $12.9 million facility. Two-thirds of the funding was derived from the Canada/British Columbia Infrastructure Works Program, with $4.3 million coming from the Province of British Columbia Government, and $4.3 million coming from the Government of Canada. The remaining one-third was raised from corporate grants and private donations.

Port Theatre is owned and operated by the Nanaimo Harbourfront Centre Theatre Society. Greystone Properties, LTD., Vancouver, was the project manager. In addition to Auerbach + Associates, the Theatre Consultant, other members of the design team include:

• Wade Williams Young + Wright, Victoria, Architect
• Paoletti Associates, San Francisco, Acoustical Consultant
• Read Jones Christoffersen, Victoria, Structural Engineer
• Hayward Wells & Associates, Victoria, Electrical Engineer
• Hirschfield Williams Cons. Ltd., Victoria, Mechanical Engineer
• Campbell Construction, LTD., Victoria, General Contractor