The Russell Dyche Amphitheater, located within Levi Jackson State Park, is a venerated local facility in desperate need of a significant transformation. Currently, the stage is vulnerable to seasonal flooding and has a number of ongoing maintenance issues. Perhaps more notably, the stage sits directly below overhead powerlines, a safety issue that significantly impacts the performance area. The new stage design proposes to address these issues by relocating the stage, improving functionality, and integrating water management.
The structure of the stage is simple and meant to disappear into the park surroundings. An offset butterfly roof plane is held up by three main beams running parallel to the stage. Steel columns placed at distant corners and along the backline wall support the beams and provide the armature for the functional backline walls. These backline walls are kinetic, hinged to swing out and create a number of different stage variations. This gives the organizers and performers the ability to customize the functionality of stage to their needs.
Relocation of the stage allows for proper water management and drainage systems to integrated into the amphitheater. The roof of the stage also addresses this by implementing a large gutter at the joint of the butterfly roof. This gutter flies out from underneath the roof in both directions, ultimately terminating in a rain chain that guides the water into a below-grade detention vault.
The proposed amphitheater stage will greatly enhance the visitor experience within the park as well as encourage new users for the stage. The scheme provides improved sightlines, increased seating arrangements, and accessibility for all attendees, solutions enabling a greater number of park visitors to enjoy performances comfortably.
