Page 19 - Spring 2020 Digital inLEAGUE Volume 43 Number 02

and ears on the project. The search for, and hiring of,
an owner’s representative should be performed with BALBOA THEATRE
the same care as hiring the architect. You could be SAN DIEGO, CA
collaborating with these teammates for a long time,
so you need to be comfortable professionally and
personally with the people with whom you are going
to be working.
Plan for regular coordination with and updating
of your development committee throughout the
design process. As project details evolve and designs
solidify, the importance and focus of individual
design elements may ebb and flow, and the costs of
construction become clearer. It is essential to have
an ongoing dialogue with the development team so
that they are aware of any changes and can weigh
in on detailed requirements for donor recognition and
amenities.
In most traditional arrangements, the architect and
your organization will be under direct contract with
one another. The architect is professionally and
contractually required to act on your behalf. Similarly,
you will be under contract directly with your selected
contractor. While the architect and contractor are
not bound directly by contract, they are typically
bound indirectly to provide services to the owner
that are dependent upon and influence the services
of one another. The American Institute of Architects
(www.aia.org/) has developed over its long history
a set of standardized contract documents such as
Owner-Architect and Owner-Contractor Agreements
that coordinate with one another. Publicly owned
facilities might be subject to specific municipal, state,
or federal government contract requirements and
regulations. There are many forms of agreement, and
you should consult an attorney experienced in design
and construction contracts before entering into any INTEGRATING
contract.
Selecting and hiring an architect should be ORCHESTRA LIFT
approached thoughtfully, with a fair and informed
process. Because theatres are complex buildings,
experience with the specific issues of design for public AND STAGE
assembly, including lobby, ticketing, concessions,
accessibility, and other patron services, as well TECHNOLOGY
as the technical aspects of show production and
backstage/performer design and access, should be MADE SIMPLE
key factors when searching for an architect. The AIA
has an online tool to generally search for architects
(http://architectfinder.aia.org) and organizations such
as the League of Historic American Theatres have
member architects who are specifically experienced
with theatre design and historic renovations. These NORTH AMERICA
organizations also list other service providers who are Tel: +1 760 738-5555
part of the design team, such as acousticians, theatre Toll free: 1 866 647-5046
consultants, lighting designers, and other specialists. galaamerica@galasystems.com
You can also research and consult peer institutions
and obtain references for professionals that they have CHRIS SHAW
utilized. cshaw@galasystems.com

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May 2020 INLEAGUE | PAGE 17