project: Wando Performing Arts Center

owner: Charleston County School District

location: Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina

architect: LS3P & Associates

Overview

Located within the beautiful new campus of Wando High School in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, the Performing Arts Center hosts not only school productions, but serves as a performance hall for many local arts organizations as well.

Design Charge

The desire of the architect and owner was to have a facility that could host not only advanced school productions, but performances by outside arts organizations as well. Encore provided general theatre consulting and space planning services as well as design of the sound system, rigging system, orchestra shell, orchestra pit filler system, lighting system, and video presentation systems. Since its opening, the performing arts center has hosted a number of school and civic performances such as the Charleston Symphony Orchestra.

Sound Systems

The facility was designed to have the most up-to-date technologies and flexibility as possible and the sound system was no different. With input and output connections located throughout the venue, a 32-channel mixing console provides live mixing and recording for various types of productions, concerts, and recitals. Input locations include around the stagehouse, catwalks, house, and orchestra pit. A center cluster of full-range JBL loudspeaker cabinets provide even coverage to the entire audience. Backstage paging and technical communications were also provided.

Lighting System

A fully computerized and programmable lighting system was provided for the performing arts center. Stage lighting positions include three electrics over the stage, two side slot positions downstage of the proscenium, and a front-of-house lighting beam.

Rigging System

The rigging system is a hybrid combination of single-purchase counterweight system and motorized winches. The motorized winches, located at the gridiron, are responsible for lifting each of the three lighting electrics. The counterweight system is responsible for lifting orchestra shell, drapes, and scenic elements above the stage.

Orchestra Pit & Filler

The performing arts center features a large orchestra pit downstage of the proscenium. In order to gain additional performance space while the pit is not in use, a pit filler system was provided to fill in the orchestra pit area. The filler extends the full width and depth of the pit.

Orchestra Shell

The stage is fitted with permanent and temporary orchestra shell systems. The permanent system is comprised of three rows of overhead ceiling reflectors. These wood veneered reflectors aid in reflecting sound into the audience from the stage. They are attached to counterweight linesets to be raised and lowered as needed. Until the matching walls are purchased, a temporary series of wall panels are provided to also aid in reflecting sound from the stage into the audience.