BICKNELL FAMILY CENTER FOR THE ARTS
DOTTIE & BILL MILLER THEATRE
Pittsburg, Kansas
Envisioned not just as a University facility, but as a regional performing arts center, the Bicknell Family Center houses the Dottie and Bill Miller Theatre, a 280-seat flexible courtyard theatre, capable of elegantly changing from endstage, to thrust, to flat floor.
The flexibility is achieved through reconfiguration of platforms and seating, allowing for quick changeovers.
With catwalks overhead, and rigging beams, the lighting and scenic capabilities rival those of a larger theatre, but remain straight forward enough to allow them to be used easily and safely.
In addition to shops, dressing rooms, and other production support spaces, the Center also houses the Paul Bergant Family Lobby, a large open space perfect for hosting pre-function events of all types, The Linda and Lee Scott Performance Hall, a 1000-seat proscenium theatre with full fly tower and acoustic shell, and two art galleries, one with a permanent exhibit honoring O. Gene Bicknell, the project's lead donor.
Benton Delinger and Michael Ferguson performed theatre consulting services as individual effort while at a previous firm.
COMPLETION
2014
OWNER
Pittsburg State University
ARCHITECT
William Rawn Associates