[Usittne] Help on new spaces

[Dirks, Arthur]

Greetings. We've been teased with an architectural planner for a new
arts building on campus. I need to get some optimal requirements to him
and need a little help deciding what we want. We need two performing
spaces:

-a 300-400 seat traditional hall, ideally convertible between proscenium
and somewhat thrust (more than just extended apron).
-a black box that will seat 200 in half the space.

I have the following questions:

-Where is there a prosc/thrust hall of comparable size that works well?
-Where is there a really good working black box of comparable size?

Location could be anywhere in US, but preferably in the NY-New England
region. 

-What good advice does anyone have for us as we start rough-specking our
spaces? Things to avoid absolutely? [Certainly I am working to get a
consultant, but at this phase it's not an option.]

-What books or other resources would people point me to (besides
Izenour's 1977 book)?

Thanks for any help.

Arthur Dirks
Chairperson, Designer/Faculty TD
Bridgewater State College Theater
mailto:adirks at bridgew.edu