project: Nacogdoches Amphitheater

location: Nacogdoches, Texas

architect: Milton Powell & Partners

The city of Nacogdoches, the oldest city in the State of Texas, is home to many festivals and celebrations. In response, the City has been renovating and revitalizing their downtown area including the addition of an amphitheater. The ampitheater will connect the downtown area with the Bonita Creek Open Space system. Encore Design provided schematic planning and design for the Architect including sightline studies, lighting and sound system schematic plans, and general power and other infrastructure planning as required by the amphitheater's technical systems.

The model shown in this picture was created by the Architect in response to the City's needs and schematic planning. The amphitheater project will require the rerouting of Bonita Creek while accommodating the required floodway zone. The amphitheater will provide fixed seating for 2,100 and blanket seating for 1,500. The stage is a generous 40 feet by 60 feet. A tensioned white fabric roof supported by "drill stems" reminiscent of the area's oil industry reaches across the stage and over the fixed seating area for acoustic enhancement and shade from the Texas sun.