HAROLD BUBIL: Saving ‘The Purple Cow’.
David
Article: Saving the "Purple Cow"
From the November 2016 issue of Sarasota Magazine:
https://www.sarasotamagazine.com/articl ... -arts-hall
https://www.sarasotamagazine.com/articl ... -arts-hall
Astounding replacement costs ... ranging from $125,000,000 to $525,000.000.
I'll never forget the night preliminary drawings were being prepared ... Wes was due to fly to Sarasota the next day, and, late that night, Charles Montooth finished a cost analysis, which suggested the preliminary design was significantly over budget.
Don't recall the original budget, but it can't have been more than a couple million dollars. The 3,000 seat Grady Gammage Auditorium at Arizona State was constructed a few years prior ... at a cost of just over three million dollars.
To bring Sarasota within budget ... Wes redesigned the building that night, removing among other things the second floor balcony, which faced west, looking out over the Gulf of Mexico. Practically everyone at Taliesin West was put to work redrawing the project, which work continued until long after dawn.
Whatever the building's drawbacks, the good citizens of Sarasota seemed pleased as punch. While most auditoriums constructed at the time had budgets in excess of 10-20 million dollars, the citizens of Sarasota received a great deal at a bargain-basement price.
I'll never forget the night preliminary drawings were being prepared ... Wes was due to fly to Sarasota the next day, and, late that night, Charles Montooth finished a cost analysis, which suggested the preliminary design was significantly over budget.
Don't recall the original budget, but it can't have been more than a couple million dollars. The 3,000 seat Grady Gammage Auditorium at Arizona State was constructed a few years prior ... at a cost of just over three million dollars.
To bring Sarasota within budget ... Wes redesigned the building that night, removing among other things the second floor balcony, which faced west, looking out over the Gulf of Mexico. Practically everyone at Taliesin West was put to work redrawing the project, which work continued until long after dawn.
Whatever the building's drawbacks, the good citizens of Sarasota seemed pleased as punch. While most auditoriums constructed at the time had budgets in excess of 10-20 million dollars, the citizens of Sarasota received a great deal at a bargain-basement price.
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Roderick Grant
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Maybe it's just getting old, but I cannot suffer through the popular entertainments of today, with the massive casts rambling about, yelling, flying through the air, setting off fireworks, bursting eardrums. Cher should get an award for endurance. Even a symphony orchestra stretches my limits. I prefer chamber-scaled venues. The Purple Cow should be saved as is. If popular entertainment must be accommodated, then instead of the Guarneri Quartet, book Well-Strung.
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Roderick Grant
- Posts: 10571
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 7:48 am
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Roderick Grant
- Posts: 10571
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 7:48 am
Re: Article: Saving the "Purple Cow"
Since the principal problem with VW is its size, inability to mount large-scale productions and accommodate large crowds, doesn't COVID 19 obviate those complaints? Will this ever be over?
Re: Article: Saving the "Purple Cow"
It would seem Wright’s and TAA’s preference for the end of row portal continental seating, which has no intervening aisles, but more legroom to allow fellow row guests to easily pass, is raising issues.
I don’t see how the theater seating could be reconfigured as tied as it is to the edge circulation.
I don’t see how the theater seating could be reconfigured as tied as it is to the edge circulation.