Ferro
Location: Bryan, Texas
Type: Theater
Team: Drew Busmire and Ryan Wilson
Fall 2013
Ferro is a speculative Theatre in Bryan, Texas. Ferro studies the notion of the object in the court as well as the precedent of Potzampark and his original theatre emerging as an object. We formed a dialectic relation between a normalized form creating the perimeter and a volatile object emerging in the court. The relation of the object to the perimeter is a dialectic in the sense that the object is repelling the Typological “C” by lifting it. The object does, however, embrace the voided form below. We can see moments of repulsion and juxtaposition when the object comes close to the perimeter forming tight interstitial spaces controlling circulation, light, and effect. Since this project was to be one of the first new buildings in this downtown area it was necessary to create a stimulating design. Our objective was to take the user from a mundane environment into a quixotic atmosphere.
This project came predefined with a very strict program. There needed to be a black box theatre with theatre support spaces behind such as scene shops, a green room, and dressing rooms. Secondly, classroom space was required since this is an instructional theatre. Lastly, there was an administration area containing offices and conference rooms for those in charge of running the theatre. An important aspect we wanted to implement was the connectivity of the interior public space to the outside community while maintaining a very private back of house area. The public foyer is the second largest programmatic feature to our black box. This was done intentionally so that the subject’s experience could have the most profound effect. We also have added a rooftop performing space inside of the “crystalline object” for less formal performances.
The form of the object is reminiscent to slot canyons such as those seen in Moab, Utah. There is an intricacy of circulation and light filtration which can be derived from this. The park immediately adjacent to the theatre site was also required to be designed. In this implementation, we had another interpretation of these crag forms and their extrusion from the ground forming a field condition. The crags create affordances for seating and congregation since this park functions as an outdoor theatre. The “community” mentality is one that has been lost in Bryan, Texas, however in recent years there has been a reinvigoration, and so the creation of public outlets is more than necessary.
This wall section includes the details of most connections that would be required. For the perimeter form on the left, we looked at the Louvre in Lens by Sanaa in order to have a minimal and seamless connection of glass. The form on the right required a much further study into the structure and the requirements in order to realize this form. We looked at projects such as Morphosis’ Perot museum as well as Trahan Architect’s Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. The panels had to be divided into specific sizes which were both optimized in the geometry as well as square footage of each individual panel. The panels had to have a watertight membrane along with insulation in between. There needed to be a fairly regularized system in order for the structure to work on the interior. This consisted of a few variations of vertical columns, which had tubes connecting them with a welded connection. From here they would extend and connect to the panels. In order to adjust to the varying angles in which the panels where arranged it was necessary to have a double pin connection. This not only allowed the angles to have a certain tolerance but also made it so the angles would be able to be mass-produced rather than individually made.
