St. Ann's Warehouse
The theater's new 25,500 square foot home is in the 1860 Tobacco Warehouse adjacent to Brooklyn Bridge Park. The state-of-the-art theater has gained international recognition for its ability to adapt in multiple configurations allowing for complete flexibility.
The lobby opens up to the garden on the waterfront side. This space can be used as a gathering space before a show as well as additional performance space.
The entry vestibule is a double height space to maintain views of the Brooklyn Bridge, where people historically posed for photos.
Program diagram
All program other than the theater was placed in a volume along the center wall separating the rectangle from the triangle. This allows for all of the perimeter walls to remain exposed.
There are three primary materials used in addition to the existing brick: plywood, concrete, and blackened steel.
Theater diagram
A catwalk was hung from the new steel structure that defined the theater space. The continuous catwalk provides complete flexibility for the new performance space.
Flexible presenting theater
The front half of the seating risers are removable, which allows for increased floor space and elevated viewing.
The existing brick walls provide a rustic backdrop for the performance area.
Flexible Theater
The open warehouse space provides flexibility for different performance configurations.
View from the catwalk
Light spills into the theater space through the glass brick clerestory.
Opening performance of Henry IV, October 2015
A glass brick clerestory rises 7.5’ above the historic brick walls.
A performance of Nice Fish, April 2016
Section A-A
The Triangle Garden, designed by Michael Van Valkenberg, is enclosed on all sides and provides a public place for gathering as well as a refuge from the windy waterfront.
Triangle Garden
The entry vestibule is accessed through the public Triangle Garden.
The glass brick volume glows at night, marking performances and events at St. Ann’s Warehouse.
- Location
- Brooklyn, New York
- Client
- St. Ann's Warehouse
- Typology
- Cultural, Preservation & Reuse, Theater, Museum & Exhibit
- Size
- 25,500 SF
- Design Team
- Jonathan Marvel, Lissa So, Scott Demel, Zachary Griffin
- Consultants
- Silman (Structural Engineers) Buro Happold (MEP Engineers) Charcoalblue (theater design, stage lighting, stage engineering, acoustics, av) Higgins Quasebarth (historic restoration/preservation) Domingo Gonzalez (exterior architectural lighting) Flyleaf Creative (signage) Tom Fruin (signage) DBI (Owner's Representative) Yorke Construction (Construction Manager) David Weeks Studio (Interior Arch Lighting Custom Work)
- Awards
- AIA National Honor Award for Architecture, AIA New York State Design Award of Excellence, AIA NY Chapter-Design Honor Award for Architecture, Architizer A+ Awards-Special Mention Cultural: Hall/Theater, International Architecture Award from the Chicago Athenaeum, Municipal Art Society MASterworks Award for Best Adaptive Reuse, Urban Land Institute New York Award of Excellence in Institutional Development, Chicago Athenaeum, American Architecture Award, Building Brooklyn Award TerraCRG Award For Arts and Recreation, Architect’s Newspaper-Best of Design Award for Adaptive Reuse
- Photography Credits
- ©David Sundberg/ESTO
