Memphis Business Journal
Here are the finalists and winner of the 2019 Building Memphis awards for Best New Construction-Medium category, for projects $10 million to $20 million.
Crosstown Arts Theater — Winner
Address: 1350 Concourse Ave., Memphis
Project Cost: $12M
Owner/Developer: Crosstown Arts
Architects: Looney Ricks Kiss; Theater Projects Consultants; Spatial Affairs Bureau
Engineers: Akustiks; CSG; OGCB Inc.; Structural Design Group; SRC Engineers Inc.
Contractor: Grinder, Taber & Grinder Inc.
Source of Financing: First Tennessee Bank
From the outset, the transformative Crosstown Concourse redevelopment was rooted in arts, education, and health care.
The project’s latest addition, the Crosstown Arts Theater, further solidifies those key pillars.
Opened in September 2018, the theater is intended to be a flexible space that can be used by Crosstown Arts and Crosstown High School as well as by the greater community.
Design for the theater started in fall 2015, with construction beginning in 2017. The theater is able to transform in a matter of hours from 5,000 square feet of open space to configurations including proscenium, thrust, black box, or theater-in-the-round.
The theater can accommodate 600 people standing, 425 seated in theater-style rows, and 250 people via banquet seating.
The second floor balcony can accommodate seated or standing guests.
A large-scale installation of 1,000 unique, handmade drawings adorns 3,000 square feet of space and also functions as acoustical paneling.
Crosstown Arts has made a commitment to inclusivity; the theater’s programming reflects that, reinforcing Crosstown Concourse’s “Better together” motto.
