Eight years in the making, the 221,000sq.ft Curtis R. Priem EMPAC near Troy, NY, includes nine levels of studios, a 1,200-seat concert hall, a smaller 400-seat theatre, a studio with seating for 240 people, another that seats 120, a 1,500sq.ft rehearsal studio and four artist-in-residence studios.
Designed by Nicholas Grimshaw & Partners of London and New York, the project's construction began in 2003. Theatre consultants Fisher Dachs Associates designed rigging systems, with J. R. Clancy supplying the rigging and acoustical equipment for the four performance spaces.
For the theatre, the company provided 22 high speed (0 - 240 fpm) hoists with 2000-lb. capacity; a 33' H x 60' W steel-framed Zetex fire curtain, a motorized main curtain, and a stage lift and seating wagon.
The concert hall received motorised acoustic elements, allowing the room acoustics to be adjusted. These included line shaft hoists for the movable ceiling panels, acoustical panel hoists, plus acoustic drapes and tracks, and control system.
J. R. Clancy also provided point hoist systems for the two studio theatres. The hoists are at fixed locations, with an ingenious system of movable, swivelling spot blocks. These can be mounted anywhere on the grid, allowing the user to place spotlines as needed.
(Jim Evans)
