Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Recommend the finest Multiplex Architect around

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Posted by Kamakshipalya Dhananjay (Member # 1391) on 09-18-2003, 01:37 AM:

We expect our State Government to announce a Multiplex policy in a couple of days. We (Our family and Investor friends) are planning to build a couple of them across our State.

We seek the finest architect and interior designers for our projects. Is there any person, firm or group you wish to recommend ? We expect the best will be expensive and that is fine.

Posted by Jeff Taylor (Member # 443) on 09-18-2003, 03:55 PM:

Finest, well I'm not sure I'd go that far, but Beacon Architects in Boston do a great deal of multiplex work and having built one off their plans I had no complaints.

Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 09-18-2003, 03:58 PM:

Gosh, this sounds like an open invitation to a pissing contest. I'm sure everyone has their own opinion as to who (whom?) they think is the best.

There are MANY!

>>> Phil

Posted by Kamakshipalya Dhananjay (Member # 1391) on 09-18-2003, 11:25 PM:

Any information on Multiplex Projects handled or designed by Mr.Martin M Pegler of the New York Institute Of Fashion Technology ?

A legend, this man is.

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 09-19-2003, 06:06 AM:

Actually, Martin designed a lot of theatres. The architecture is quite neat, but I still haven`t figured out why he puts catwalks in all auditoriums.

Posted by Dennis Benjamin (Member # 1137) on 09-19-2003, 12:13 PM:

Rodney Sartain out of Birmingham, Alabama is the finest Mutilplex architect I know. I am sure if you do a yahoo or google search you will find his info.

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 09-19-2003, 06:14 PM:

What is Rodney`s private phone number? I am sure Kamakshipalya will insist on calling him at home.

Posted by Kamakshipalya Dhananjay (Member # 1391) on 09-20-2003, 12:14 AM:

Obtained the contact for Mr.Rodney Sartain :
Sartain Rodney
Architect
(205) 879-5458
1909 Courtney Dr
Birmingham
AL 35209

Also, learnt more about these other distingushed firms :

Beacon Architectural Associates
145 South Street
Boston, MA 02111-2802
Phone: (617) 357-7171
Fax:617) 357-1832
E-mail: baa@beaconarch.com

Unick Architects
Chapter House
22 Chapter Street
London
SW1P 4NP
Tel:02078342861

Urban Design Group Inc.
400 Galleria Parkway
Suite 1400
Atlanta, Georgia USA
30339
Voice: (770) 444-9630
Fax: (770) 226-5377
atlanta@urbandesigngroup.com

Runyon Architects and Associates Inc
2508 Highlander way
Suite 210
Carrollton,
Texas 75006
phone: 972.233.7705
fax: 972.387.2553

Posted by Mike Williams (Member # 1140) on 09-20-2003, 08:15 AM:

Be careful.... your Multiplex might end up looking like a Regal!

Posted by Richard Fowler (Member # 893) on 09-20-2003, 10:04 AM:

Theodore Knapp / TK Architects, Inc. 106 W. 11th Street, suite 1900, Kansas City, MO 64105 / 816-842-1302 / www.tkarch.com. This group is responsible for many of the AMC cinemas. I have been involved in several projects with either their company as the lead architect or consultant with consistant good results. Mr. Knapp has done consultant work in your country. My favorite architect is Fernando Sampera; his first project was a stadium cinema....in 1946. He is unfortunately booked up for the next two years.

Posted by Kamakshipalya Dhananjay (Member # 1391) on 09-20-2003, 11:04 AM:

Oh Yes !

TK Architects are the first name I think of !

The website of the Architects Institute of America is an invaluable resource of information in many ways.
Architects Institute of America

Posted by Gerard S. Cohen (Member # 994) on 09-21-2003, 04:34 PM:

Kamakshipalya,

I've thought about the design of the interiors of multiplex auditoriums. Most are pretty utilitarian, with a couple of exceptions.

I note one chain which has designated a two-color scheme, used in all auditoriums, involving the woven designs on the upholstery,curtains and wall drapes. This produces a brand image and unifies all auditoriums within a given multiplex, but at the expense of creating a generic and boring lack of specific space.

The more outstanding exception was achieved by Sony Theatres at Lincoln Center, New York City, when they bought control of Loews' Theatres and built that vertical high riser close to the Lincoln Center of the Performing Arts.

In the 1930's the Loews chain built a series of huge movie palaces (single-screens, of course), each lavishly decorated in the style of a different exotic locale. I remember Loews' Valencia, Paradise, Azteca, Egyptian, etc, each with wall and ceiling sculpture, columns, pilasters, etc.; fountains and goldfish ponds, and planetarium projectors to throw moving images of stars, clouds and the moon on the ceiling. These theatres were later cut up into multiplexes and demolished.

What Sony did at their Lincoln Center 12-plex was to stack their auditoriums vertically on both sides of an immense stainless-steel escalator, each with an individualized entrance fascade representing the decor of one of the Loews palaces, and bearing not the designation Theatre #1 through Theatre #12, but each room with the name of the movie palace it memorialized. (The last auditorium to open to the public was an IMAX theatre.) [Pictures in the F-t archive]

How might this translate to India? I know there are many real palaces in India, but have only stayed at one in Indore, so I don't know if they are popular, the way the Taz Mahal is in the public's imagination. Might each auditorium bear the name and
entrance decor of an Indian palace or historic building?

Then too, I notice every Indian popular film has a lovers' honeymoon montage where the camera shows Juhu Beach, pine forests, snowcapped Himalayas, Kashmiri lakes, and every beautiful type of landscape in the sub-continent, while the lovers croon to each other, or the descendants of the Mangescar singers provide vocal interlude. Could these supply names and decor for individualizing your multiplex auditoriums?

Namaste,
Gerard

Posted by Kamakshipalya Dhananjay (Member # 1391) on 09-22-2003, 09:31 AM:

A truly great idea !

But then, the Multiplexes coming up in other states are all glass and steel structures and the interiors in them are so full of dazzling lights and neon, the Indian public has come to see the Multiplexes as incorporating advancements in architecture involving glass and steel. So, it is unlikely here that any of the existing or upcoming Multiplexes would incorporate images or designs inspired by historic buildings or structures.

Also, the nature as captured in most of the Bollywood and South Indian films is hardly of the Indian variety in recent years. It is now customary for Indian producers to shoot most of their outdoor songs in the Europe, Australia, Canada or the South Africa. And the Indian audience can readily identify if the location featured in a given film is a place in India or outside.
Therefore, the race is now to build Multiplexes that compellingly look modern and new age.

I have to admit however that I feel some of the upcoming Multiplexes in the United States are a class apart from the existing ones there or even in comparison with those in other parts of the world. That we intend to build, whereever we do, a composite structure comprising of a mall, multiplex, a live theatre, speciality shops, restaurants and cafes, we are looking towards some of the upcoming works in the United States and to the people, principally the architect and the designer.

The building technology and design profession in India is evidently very backward when compared with even places like Thailand, Taiwan or Malaysia. Sooner or later, the Government of India will allow foreign Multiplex operators to build and operate Multiplexes here. As of now, the law lays down that foreign companies may not hold more than 49 % of the equity and that the control and management of the Multiplexes so built shall vest with a Resident Indian person, firm or company. So, it is our plan that we have to build such works that compare with the best in any part of the world. So, in a way, we need to compete with Multiplexes coming up there in the US !

Posted by Martin Brooks (Member # 1269) on 09-22-2003, 07:46 PM:

quote:
What Sony did at their Lincoln Center 12-plex was to stack their auditoriums vertically on both sides of an immense stainless-steel escalator, each with an individualized entrance fascade representing the decor of one of the Loews palaces, and bearing not the designation Theatre #1 through Theatre #12, but each room with the name of the movie palace it memorialized. (The last auditorium to open to the public was an IMAX theatre.) [Pictures in the F-t archive]

While it's a multi-story building, most of the theaters are on one level and they're not on both sides of the escalator, as the escalator is in the very front of the building. Below ground level are three smaller screens, used mainly for more specialist films. Those three screens are named for former Loews theaters in New Jersey are are named The Canal, The Palace, and The Jersey, The ground level contains the main lobby, ticket area, automated ticket machines and a small gift stand.

The escalator takes one up to the main theater level where there are 9 additional screens in a "T" formation. These are the "Loews" (which has a balcony and was originally THX certified), the Kings, State, Olympia, Valencia, Capitol, Paradise, Avalon and Majestic. There is a large painted mural along the wall that adjoins the escalator. When you come off the top of the escalator, there is a large, round customer service desk and the main entranceway to these nine theaters. The entranceway is meant to replicate the feel of entering the MGM lot. As you enter the entranceway, the main screen is behind you on your right at an angled entrance. The entrance brings you into another hallway, for which there is another entrance into the actual theater and a staircase up to the balcony.

Back in the main hallway, there are four screens on the left side and a very large concession stand on the right. The other four screens are at the end of the hallway at the top of the "T". Including the smaller screens in the lower level, the theaters vary in size from 140 to 964 seats. The Loews features a curved screen 62.5' wide.

Taking the escalator up to the top level brings one to the entrance of the IMAX theater.

Although this is a beautiful multiplex and a very good place to see movies in NYC, one would think from the original publicity that they replicated the interior architecture of the original theaters in each of the screens and that is certainly NOT the case. These are not "wonder theaters" as seven of the original Loews theaters in NYC were originally described and they're not movie palaces. But it is very nice and certainly goes beyond the architecture in a typical multiplex.

Each screen has a metal plaque outside the entrance featuring an etched image of the original theater and some text with its history. There are some art-deco flourishes over the entrance to each screen and towards the front of each theater. The Loews has a bit more of these elements than the other screens and also has a little "light show" before each presentation.

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 09-22-2003, 09:32 PM:

Check out the Rockwell Group, who designed the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood and Highland, and have done quite a bit of theatre design for Sony/Loews and the Cirque du Soleil Theatre in Orlando (near ShowEast):

http://www.rockwellgroup.com/architecture/theatres/kodak.html

http://www.rockwellgroup.com/architecture/theatres/starloews.html

http://www.rockwellgroup.com/architecture/theatres/cirque.html

Also try Gensler, Mesbur&Smith, and TK Architects:

http://www.gensler.com/entertainment/index.htm

http://www.mesbursmith.com

http://www.tkarchitects.com/home.htm

Posted by Gerard S. Cohen (Member # 994) on 09-23-2003, 12:49 PM:

THANKS, MARTIN,

for correcting me. I never visited the Sony theatre but relied on advance publicity in the newspapers. The closest I worked was the underground Lincoln Plaza Triplex, which I think went to five screens, across the avenue from Lincoln Center, and the Screening Room a couple of blocks north.

I'm relieved that many theatres are on the same level; otherwise the projectionists might have to fight off "the bends" going up and down to the various booths.

I recalled the Sony theatre as an alternative to the mindless uniformity with which some multiplexes are built. In NYC, where Manhattan Island is built on hard schist bedrock and real estate is fantastically expensive, there's nowhere to go but up, resulting in theatres below ground or requiring escalators. Horizontal one-booth multiplexes, like the Whitestone 14-plex, (where I have worked) are located in the outer counties.

Gerard
.................................................................

BTW, I pass the Trylon and Elmwood every day. They were run by Loews, (then Sony?), and have both been closed for a long time. Lately there has been some cleanup at the Elmwood, like graffiti removal. Have you any idea what plans might be for either of these theatres?
GC

[ 09-23-2003, 06:07 PM: Message edited by: Gerard S. Cohen ]