Location
Experience Music Project Renovation
Within its curvaceous and sculptural, rock-n-roll inspired form, Miller Hull was charged to provide additional performance and
multi-purpose space and exhibit spaces within the EMP, a participatory museum of music located at the Seattle Center. The highly
creative Gehry-designed building offered challenges both in terms of physically constructing the new spaces and maintaining a level
of originality inherent in all facets of museum programs, facilities, and operation. Furthermore, the project was fast tracked:
from programming and design, to construction completion in 20 months.
After selected demolition of administrative and amusement attraction spaces, a new floor and mezzanine were inserted into one of the museum wings creating approximately 5,800 square feet of the new "Level 3," a one-of-a-kind venue flexible to host all types of events from rock performances to educational seminars to catered parties. Two floors of 'black box' type gallery spaces were designed, yielding 9,300 square feet of new exhibition space (ultimately hosting the new Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame) and 3,700 square feet of renovated lobby and expanded entrance space.
The design of "Level 3" was conceived of as an extension of the Science Fiction Museum located on the floors below by using the existing building as a backdrop for new elements placed around a central performance space. The highly-ordered and rational mezzanine was detached from its surrounding walls to appear as if it is floating inside the irregular building shell, which was painted a saturated shade of red orange. Shell enhancements comprised of camouflage netting, hex wire, and lighting effects were placed around the perimeter space, ultimately forming the backdrop for the stage area and blurring the boundaries between formed and transparent spaces.
The main stairway acts as a passageway from one experience to another, isolating yet moving the visitor from the lobby and gallery spaces to "Level 3." The use of exposed conduit as a wall surface with in-line LED lighting creates a vortex effect for "transporting" the visitor from one world to another.
After selected demolition of administrative and amusement attraction spaces, a new floor and mezzanine were inserted into one of the museum wings creating approximately 5,800 square feet of the new "Level 3," a one-of-a-kind venue flexible to host all types of events from rock performances to educational seminars to catered parties. Two floors of 'black box' type gallery spaces were designed, yielding 9,300 square feet of new exhibition space (ultimately hosting the new Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame) and 3,700 square feet of renovated lobby and expanded entrance space.
The design of "Level 3" was conceived of as an extension of the Science Fiction Museum located on the floors below by using the existing building as a backdrop for new elements placed around a central performance space. The highly-ordered and rational mezzanine was detached from its surrounding walls to appear as if it is floating inside the irregular building shell, which was painted a saturated shade of red orange. Shell enhancements comprised of camouflage netting, hex wire, and lighting effects were placed around the perimeter space, ultimately forming the backdrop for the stage area and blurring the boundaries between formed and transparent spaces.
The main stairway acts as a passageway from one experience to another, isolating yet moving the visitor from the lobby and gallery spaces to "Level 3." The use of exposed conduit as a wall surface with in-line LED lighting creates a vortex effect for "transporting" the visitor from one world to another.
