Today we had the opportunity to take a tour at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. Designed by Max Abramovitz, a University of Illinois alumna, the center has become the designated venue for the most spectacular performances presented at the university. Krannert Center is a complex including four main theatres; Foellinger great hall, Tryon festival theatre, Colwell playhouse, and the Studio theatre. Each performance facility has its own specific purposes and architectural components that complement the space. This center is named after millionaire industrialist and alumna Herman C. Krannert and his wife Ellnora, for they were the original donors to the creation of the center. After developing flexible cardboard, Krannert became a millionaire and soon became a donor to several different facilities in the country.
In the Krannert Center lobby there are several architectural designs that are unique. The lobby extends about the length of 6 (?) tennis courts and its floors display a tile that is entirely unique. It is made of teak from Thailand and resembles the landscape of the midwest from a bird's eye view.
Along with the distinctive wood tile, Krannert's touch was also found in the ceilings and walls near the theatres. The wall is lined with a texture mimicking the look of the flexible/foldable cardboard, therefore paying homage to Krannert and his invention.
We moved onto the biggest auditorium in the space, Foellinger Great Hall. It has a nice lobby space that utilizes natural light and serves as a entrance into the theatre. I think that this natural light truly adds to the appeal and ambiance of this grand entrance. The Great Hall is well known for its acoustic ability and purposeful architectural designs. For example, there are no right angles or parallel surfaces in the entire auditorium which in turn allows the sound vibrations to reflect back to the audience. In addition, the design of Foellinger Great Hall is perfectly symmetrical (they even added a fake door to stay true to the symmetry).
Overall I think that this tour was very valuable because it is an amazing and unique facility that our university is proud to showcase. All of the auditoriums and amphitheaters serve a specific genre of the arts and exhibit considerate designs pertaining to the purpose of the space.
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