Open Forum

I second the comment about reviewing the plans to make sure that duct work is not placed inappropriately!  I have seen this happen more than once!  Also, make sure it's easy to change out the lamps in the fixtures without having to rent a specialized lift!

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Kirk Longhofer
Theatrical Sound Design, Audio Production, Editing and Engineering
Systems Design and Consultation
www.technopraxis.org
kirk@technoprasix.org
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This can be a loaded question....

What are they truly asking of you? Do they just want your input on your day-to-day classroom space, or do they want your input on the entire building?

If it is just the classroom you want to see how to get involved with the building design team or the theatrical consultants designing the building, generate a weighted wish list of priority of what to have vs. what to cut due to budget requirements. Please understand that equipment and square footage are expensive and a balancing act vs. the entire building cost.

As for your classroom is it just a classroom? Is it a box theater? Is it your make-up area and greenroom? to determine this the overall building would need to be reviewed to answer this question. Does your space need to act as storage during shows and concerts?

How much space is available for your classroom needs, or do you reduce the stage size and shop to make what you want practical for your use.

Have justifications of what you want, we currently have X amount of students, in the next 20 years we hope/anticipate to have x many so the space is not outgrown before requiring update for the next 20 years.

Thats my 2 cents from being involved in this process in the past, be involved, know what you need vs. what you want! weight out what is worth keeping at the expense of other items on your list.

Good Luck in your process.

I'll throw out that in my theatre classroom I have rolling desk chairs, and we love them. We circle up with them for reading or discussion, and then they push back easily for movement work. They also fold up a bit and nest if you need to get them out of the way. The only think I wish is that we'd gotten the version with cupholders, because then I think my students would be less likely to spill their drinks. :-)