A.C.T.'s Strand Theater Receives AIASF's Revitalization Design Award

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) Artistic Director Carey Perloff announced today that The Strand Theater, A.C.T.'s brand new performance venue and education center, is the recipient of the 2015 American Institute of Architects, San Francisco Chapter (AIASF), Revitalization Design Award. The Revitalization Award recognizes property owners and developers who have enhanced the community by making significant improvements to their properties, which have, in turn, had a positive impact on the surrounding area.

"A.C.T. is incredibly honored to be recognized for the thrilling revitalization of The Strand Theater," says Perloff. "The building has become a beacon for so many communities in the Bay Area who are looking for a funky, fun, welcoming space to gather, to see theater, to make music, and to look out upon the City. We hope The Strand will become an indelible part of the Central Market corridor and help light up the neighborhood."

AIA San Francisco's Community Alliance Awards program celebrates the best in architecture, design, and sustainability in the Bay Area. The introduction of Community Alliance Awards expands the program to honor the firms, individuals, and organizations whose overall work, leadership, and dedication shape the character and vibrancy of our communities and the future of our built environment. In recognition of their contributions to the advancement and enrichment of the quality of life in the Bay Area through their commitment to design excellence, AIASF strives to acknowledge these extraordinary individuals and organizations for their service to the Chapter, to the community, and to the profession. Their continued efforts to engage, educate, collaborate, and advocate elevates the value of design and its impact on the experiences of our daily lives.

Located in the heart of San Francisco's Central Market neighborhood, the newly revitalized Strand Theater gives A.C.T. a much-needed second space in which to produce and present dynamic and intimate projects, providing another cultural boost to the Central Market district of San Francisco. The Strand Theater is also the new home to performances by-and provides classroom and workshop space for-A.C.T.'s Master of Fine Arts, Young Conservatory, and Education & Community programs. The Strand will expand the scope of A.C.T. performances, with productions being staged at both The Geary Theater, A.C.T.'s 1,040-seat mainstage, and The Toni Rembe Theater, The Strand's more intimate 283-seat theater.

A.C.T.'s recently created new-play development program, New Strands, also finds a welcoming home in The Strand, as well as in The Geary, The Costume Shop, and A.C.T.'s studios at 30 Grant Avenue. A.C.T.'s commissioned artists can utilize The Toni Rembe Theater for full productions of new plays that benefit from a substantial audience, while A.C.T.'s flexible upstairs space, The Rueff, can be used for more intimate productions, as well as workshops and readings.

As a component of A.C.T.'s expanded community engagement initiatives and audience building efforts, The Strand Theater is also a part of A.C.T.'s Community Space-Sharing Initiative. The funding provided by two grants-one from the San Francisco Neighborhood Arts Collaborative and one from The Kenneth Rainin Foundation-helps cover the necessary facilities, maintenance, and staffing costs to enable A.C.T. to offer no-cost rehearsal and performance space to partnering arts organizations. The Strand Theater will also be available for rent to touring and local productions, private events, and corporate meetings.

The construction project team for The Strand Theater includes the following:

· Architect, Structural Engineering, Architectural Graphics: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM)

· Development/Project Manager: Equity Community Builders LLC

· General Contractor: Plant Construction Company LP

· Theater Consultant: The Shalleck Collaborative, Inc.

· Historic Architect: Page & Turnbull

· Architectural Lighting Design: PritchardPeck Lighting

· Legal Counsel: Farella Braun + Martel LLP

· Construction Financing: First Republic Bank

· New Market Tax Credits Investor: U.S. Bancorp Community Development Corporation

· Historic Tax Credit Investor: Clearinghouse CDFI

· Community Development Entity/Lender: San Francisco Community Investment Fund

· Community Development Entity/Lender: Northern California Community Loan Fund

· Community Development Entity/Lender: Clearinghouse CDFI

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