LATINO CULTURAL CENTER, PHASE I
Category: Institutions
Region: North America
Year: 2003
Location: DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A.
FT2 Construction: 48,438 sq ft
FT2 Ground: 0 sq ft
Involved Areas: Architecture, Interior Design
Collaborators:
LEGORRETA®
Ricardo Legorreta
Víctor Legorreta
Noé Castro
Miguel Almaraz
Adriana Ciklik
Carlos Vargas C.
Jorge Covarrubias
Alejandro Danel
Associate Architects:
ARQUITECTO EJECUTIVO: Halff Associates
Consultants:
CONTRACTOR: THOS BYRNE
STRUCTURAL DESIGN: HALFF Associates
HVAC: HALFF Associates
ELECTRICAL DESIGN: GERARD & ASSOCIATES
THEATER CONSULTANT: STARR TEK DESIGNS
COST ESTIMATOR: KJM AND ASSOCIATES, LTD
AUDIO & VIDEO CONSULTANTS: CEDRICK FRANK ASSOCIATES, INC.
Photographer:
Lourdes Legorreta
The need of a cultural facility which focuses on the Latino community in Dallas has been expressed repeatedly over the past decade. Given the size and fast growth of the Hispanic population, such Center serves to exhibit and preserves the arts and cultural traditions. Located in a prominent site at the heart of the City of Dallas, the Latino Cultural Center of 49,000 sqft will be developed in two phases. The 27,250 sqft phase I development is comprised of four distinct elements: The General Spaces, Gallery, Theater and surface parking for 71 cars. The complex seeks to contribute to the urban image of the City. The playful mix of geometric forms blending the use of brick and plaster, brings a different scale to the project in response to the urban landscape. The use of bright colors, yellow, red and purple, catches the attention in the grey city. The Cultural Center was designed taking the buildings urban setting into consideration, which is of residential scale. On the side of Live Oak Street, a 75 ft tower emphasizes the main entry to the complex, creating a strong, identifiable icon that becomes the symbol of the Cultural Center. Visitors entering through the main Plaza discover a unique open space which houses an exterior covered portico, articulating all the different volumes of the project. The Plaza is the heart of the site creating a public gathering place for festivals and outdoor functions, including theater, dance and other cultural activities. On the other hand, the Cantegral Latimer Street elevation is of a more abstract composition which gives a more discrete treatment to the secondary entrance of the building. The General Spaces include space for teaching, instruction and experiencing cultural activities as well as administrative offices and support functions of the building. The Interactive space is an experimental space at the end of the covered portico that serves as the passageway into the building and the theater area. The Gallery is a large cube, set behind the General Spaces, rotated 45 degrees for visual emphasis. The Gallery serves as a display area for artwork and is spatially located next to the teaching spaces. The 300 persons theater is the heart of the complex, responding to the function with a triangular shape. A slightly raised platform to the side of the seating adds variety in the large volume, functioning as either an orchestra platform, or as a display area. A spacious Lobby in front of the Theater allows for gathering before and after the show. The Lobby has a glass wall which opens to the plaza, providing the opportunity for inside & outside events. The Theater wedge is clad in brick for visual prominence, while the low backstage areas around the rear are in plaster. Visual surprises are around every corner, in every room and walkway. The walls make you wonder what is on the other side and brings in the delights of mystery and intrigue with meditative spaces in which one can reflect on light, color and silence. Future expansions will include a black box theater, additional gallery spaces, practice rooms and classrooms.
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