The new theater will provide a new face to the public for Rio, and we all hope it will be the first phase of a comprehensive re-imagining of the entire campus. As part of the new theater construction, an entirely new music complex will also be constructed, roughly on the site of the existing band room. This means that the existing band room will be demolished and replaced with a state-of-the-art music education facility, incorporating most of the best elements of our current building, while adding new design elements like- working HVAC! Soundproofing! More space! Adequate storage! More practice rooms! An office suitable for meetings! A shape that doesn’t look like Darth Vader’s spaceship! Rio band will be displaced during demolition and construction (roughly one calendar year), but rest assured that we have a plan to make the transition as seamless as possible. We’ll still have all the same events during construction, and Rio Band will be as great as ever!
I know that many people will have very mixed emotions regarding the demolition of the building that has provided a sanctuary for thousands over the years, and has silently witnessed the creation of so much phenomenal music. I have spent much of the past 17 years here myself, and I’ll be sad to see it go. However, we can’t let emotion and sentimentality stand in the way of genuine progress. We’ll be sure to hold some sort of “say goodbye to the band room” event. Ever onward!
Here’s a description of each attached slide:
- Cover page
- Bird’s-eye view of the Rio campus, showing the approximate placement of the new theater and music building, superimposed over the existing building.
- A more detailed rendering of the new facility, and how it would fit into the campus. You’ll see a ‘river’ and ‘bridges’. They are actually walkways, designed to incorporate our geography into the Rio campus. Also, and outdoor plaza, an outdoor ‘music plaza,’ suitable for informal lunchtime performances.
- An initial architectural drawing of the floor plan, including a lobby (to be used as an art gallery), lobby restrooms (accessible from the outside, for use during sporting events), a ticket booth, plenty of storage, boys’ and girls’ dressing rooms, 350 fixed seats, 100 additional seats as needed, the new band rooms, and bathrooms for daily use (YAY!)
- Second floor, accessible by stairs or elevator. Here will be the sound/ light room, hopefully with a fully-functioning recording studio.
- Very tentative mock-up of the front.
- Side view.
- Basic view from the stage, without many details.
- Birds-eye view.
Please remember that ALL of the design elements are tentative, and many will change. Nonetheless, this gives you a good idea of the scope of the project.
Again, thank you to everyone who voted for Measure N, manned the phone banks in the weeks prior to the vote, attended meetings at Rio, lobbied the school board or otherwise provided assistance in making this happen. These are very exciting times.
More info, including a timeline when I have it.