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Greater Cleveland finally has auditorium facilities on the West
Side for major theatrical and musical attractions.
Symphony concerts, opera, ballet, musical comedies, recitals,
pageants-all can be presented in Lakewood's new $1,200,000 Civic Auditorium.
It seats 2000. It is air-conditioned and its acoustical design
combines new features which sound engineers believe will make it
one of the finest auditoriums of its size in the country. Its first
test will be Sunday evening, Apr. 17, when the Cleveland Orchestra under
the direction of George Szell officially opens the building with a symphony
concert.
A variety of other uses to which the auditorium can be put will
be demonstrated in a series of additional special events-a concert by the
University of Michigan Glee Club, Apr. 23; an on stage, live telecasting
of Horace Heidi's TV show, Apr. 30; a concert by the combined choirs of
Lakewood churches, May 8, and a large, school pageant presented by Lakewood
public school students, May, 12, 13, and 14.
How did a city of 70,000 manage to build such a modern, multiple
auditorium?
Planners Had Two Purposes
The answer is that Lakewood undertook the planning and construction
with a double purpose in mind. First of all, the structure was designed
to serve as a new auditorium for Lakewood High School but from the very
earliest rough-sketch stage, the widest possible civic uses were kept in
mind.
A form followed function in the designing, the architects' drafting
pencils inscribed lines that spoke of high school assemblies, the playing
of great symphonies, community audiences listening to concert stars, the
impressive solemnity of June graduation time, the graceful movements of
ballet being watched from 2000 seats, the soft strains of a violin being
heard in the last row.
Into the building design, too, flowed the inspiration of community
heritage.
Lakewood (originally Township 7, Range 14, of the Western Reserve)
was once a pioneer settlement. In fact, the land on which Lakewood High
School stands was, 100 years ago, the farm of Dr. Jared P. Kirtland, Ohio's
first scientist.
Planting Settler Symbolic
What better than to take the figure of an early settler, engaged
in planting, as symbolic of present-day planting of seeds of culture of
music and drama-in a modern civic auditorium?
In colored ceramics, the figure of "Early Settler," created by
Artist Viktor Schrekengost, today stands above the marquee of Lakewood
Civic Auditorium to link pioneers past with present.
As these ideas were determining the basic character of the new
building, certain practical aspects were given emphasis in the design which
was developed by Architects Byers Hays and Paul Ruth.
Primary importance was given to acoustical treatment and internationally
known consultants from Boston were retained in an effort to make this one
of the nation's best "natural sound" auditoriums.
Air-conditioning, too, figured prominently in the plans. Into
the design went a cooling system that uses a stored water supply over and
over, taking into consideration the shortage of water in summer.
2000 Seats on One Floor
Method of seating was another major factor in basic design. There
is no balcony. All 2000 seats are on one sloping floor. This, besides being
a modern treatment, is aimed at promoting a feeling of "togetherness" by
being able to seat the entire audience on one level.
Simplicity, emphasized by the free use of natural materials,
was still another underlying feature of design. While the walls of the
interior are mainly of reddish tan Norman Brick, effective use is made
of panels of finned woodwork to give character and at the same time act
as sound "boosters."
The use of color is striking. The seat upholstery is rust colored.
Carpeting in the aisles is light green with a modernistic figure. The stage
curtain is a brilliant turquoise. The ceiling, with restful, recessed
lightning, is in the form of an inverted ocean wave that has been designed
to enhance the acoustics. Sloping toward the stage, it "floats" between
recessed panels and is one of the distinctive beauties of the building.
More Auditorium Features
There are many other features- a stage large enough to seat 500,
a green room and dressing room, as well as a crafts shop for set building,
downstairs; a curtain that can partition off half of the seating area when
the entire auditorium is not needed, attractively furnished lounges and
a specially-constructed orchestra shell to "mix" sounds before projecting
them from the stage.
As a west wing on the high school, the auditorium balances a new
east wing, opened a little more that a year ago and including an
$800,000 gymnasium and student center. As a social lounge and meeting place
for school activities, the student center surpasses many college unions.
Lakewood also, has a new municipal swimming pool, is building
a large addition to its public library and soon will convert its old high
school auditorium into a little theater and new school library.
All these are part of the decade of civic improvements Lakewood
is celebrating in a month-long Pride of Progress festival.