JUDSON’S

THE DPC

The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Orlando is nearing the end of its staged construction. Judson’s (formerly named The Green Room) is a Stage II component of the Performing Arts Center’s construction, designed to complement the three other state-of-the-art performance spaces, and in doing so, provide multi-use opportunities in an atmospheric and flexible environment.

PROGRAMME

Thomas Payne Architect was brought in to re-imagine an unfinished 3,000 square foot, 3-storey concrete room, originally planned as a rehearsal room, to become something more. The proposed project is a dynamic performance space seating 150+/- that can host intimate live entertainment, special celebrations, drinks, and dining. A full commercial kitchen immediately adjacent gives the room service flexibility that will make it a popular venue for both corporate and social events.
Judson’s will be at once a jazz room, a lounge space for patrons (of Walt Disney Theater, Steinmetz Hall, or Pugh Theatre shows), and a rentable room for conferences, media events, or weddings – the venue is dramatic, versatile, and highly atmospheric.

DESIGN

The project donor was very supportive of a design centered around curvaceous, undulating wooden walls, referencing musicality and sound waves, lit by a specialized system that gives a soft halo effect to match the softness of materiality in the room. In addition, exotic, orb-shaped light fixtures hover like illuminated clouds above the space. Our ultimate goal in the design is to create a room with the same magical qualities of a performance venue. Every detail from lighting to material selection to acoustic performance and beyond was considered from a multitude of points throughout the space to ensure every patron is given exceptional experience, and performers have a high quality and comfortable environment to showcase their art.
The key vision and motto of the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts is “Arts for Every Life”. Judson’s was created with this in mind – its design is fully aware of the evolving nature of performance and ancillary rooms, such as in ability to integrate technologies that enables archiving, simulcasting, and multiple ways of presenting to an increasingly large, even global audience. The space has received a warm welcome by a wide range of artists since it’s opening, and we anticipate that it will be a well-used resource: enjoyed by the center’s benefactors and a healthy source of rental income for the Centre, but most importantly, will stay a wonderful, intimate, and welcoming space for the arts.