We're thrilled to share the details behind the development of a visionary project: The reimagined Doris Duke Theatre, Massachusetts, USA. Guided by lead architect Mecanoo and architect of record Marvel Designs in collaboration with technical theatre consultant Charcoalblue and renowned artist, MacArthur Fellow Jeffrey Gibson, the design embraces the Pillow’s diverse history to create an accessible and inclusive space for dance, dialogue, collaboration, and education fit for the Pillow’s second century.
The new building will maintain the intimacy of the original studio theatre, while incorporating a digital backbone. The ability for the facility to adapt to different programmatic needs as well as future technical upgrades will be key to the theatre’s purpose as a makerspace and digital lab, and will ensure long-term resiliency and growth. The design allows for multi-use flexibility, so that the building can support performances, events, residencies, and more, sometimes simultaneously. The theatre will seat up to 230 patrons in the main performance space, with an array of seating and stage configurations.
Jacob’s Pillow has continued to engage community members, artists, technicians, staff and Board members, and Indigenous stakeholders in workshops and engagement sessions to inform the design process. The new Doris Duke Theatre will restore a second indoor theater space for Jacob’s Pillow’s annual summer Dance Festival alongside the flagship Ted Shawn Theatre, and provide year-round studio space on the Pillow campus, in addition to the Perles Family Studio, which is home to The School at Jacob’s Pillow and the Pillow Lab, artist-in-residence program.