Building Statistics

• Building Name:  Woolly Mammoth Theatre
• Location and Site:  641 D Street, NW Washington DC
• Building Occupant Name:  Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
• Occupancy:  265 Seat Theater with Associated Support Spaces
• Size:  31,608 SF
• Number of Stories:  3
• Project Team:
  • Owner:  Woolly Mammoth Theater Company
    • http://www.woollymammoth.net/
• Architect:  Mcinturff Architects
  • http://mcinturffarchitects.com/
• General Contractor:  Davis Construction
  • http://www.davisconstruction.com/
• Structural Engineer:  Tadger-Cohn-Edelson
• MEP Engineer:  GHT Chartered
• Life Safety Consultant:  Rolf Jensen & Associates
• Theater Consultant:  Theatre Projects Consultants
  • http://www.tpcworld.com/
• Acoustic and Audio-Visual Consultant:  Acoustic Dimensions
  • http://www.acousticdimensions.com/
• Architectural Lighting:  C.M. Kling & Associates
  • http://www.cmkling.com/
• Dates of Construction:  April 1, 2004 – April 26, 2005
• Overall Project Cost:  $8 Million (Does not include concrete shell or historical facade which were provided)
• Project Delivery Method:  Design-Bid-Build- Hard Bid

Architecture

• Architecture:  The theater is part of a 12 story mixed use facility including 420 condominiums and street level retail.  The exterior façade and concrete shell were provided, leaving the interior to be designed by the theater company.  The idea for it was to produce a “transparent theatrical laboratory”.  All of the spaces normally hidden from the view of patrons (rehearsal halls, classrooms, offices and support areas) are open for them to see and truly understand the “behind-the-scenes” of making a production.  The interior has a rough edgy feel, using unfinished concrete and unrefined joints throughout the space.  

• National Codes: 
  • Boca Building Code 1996 Edition
  • Title 12 DCMR 1999 Edition
  • Accessibility- ANSI A 117 1986 Edition
  • BOCA Fire Prevention 1996 Edition

• Zoning:  Downtown Development District- Permits incentives and requirements for Downtown sub-areas to a maximum FAR of 6.0 to 10.0, and a maximum height of one hundred-thirty (130) feet. This district is mapped in combination with other districts.*

  Central Business District- The downtown core comprising the retail and office centers for the District of Columbia and the metropolitan area, and allows office, retail, housing and mixed uses to a maximum lot occupancy of 100%, a maximum FAR of 8.5 to 10.0, a maximum height of 110 feet and 130 on 110-foot adjoining streets.*

• Historical Requirements:  The façade is a historical storefront.

• Building Envelope:  The building has a historical brick façade.  There is a courtyard directly above the theater and offices for the residents.  More information is currently being researched.

  *Information regarding zoning taken from the DC Office of Zoning http://dcoz.dc.gov/main.shtm

Building Statistics Part 2

Construction:  The concrete shell of the building was provided to the theatre.  It was a contribution that valued $4.5 million.  The theatre project itself totaled a cost of $8 million.  The delivery method was a design-bid-build with a hard bid.  Construction started in April of 2004 and lasted a little over a year.      

 Structural:  The building shell was a provided CMU structural cavity with historic brick facade.  Floors are metal decking with concrete fill supported by steel joists.  Structural steel reinforced concrete beams and columns run throughout the space.  The balcony and tech room in the theatre are on a cantilevered concrete slab.

Mechanical:  The theatre’s mechanical system was designed to be totally silent.  This was done by using open ended ducts that shoot air horizontally out and down from the catwalk level. No diffusers were used.  This enhanced the acoustical quality and intimacy of the theatre.  The space has ten air handling units ranging from 11,250 cfm to 625 cfm.  There are 14 fans ranging from 33,000 cfm to 500 cfm.  There are six electric heating coils running at 208 volts varying from 8200 cfm to 1200 cfm.  The mechanical equipment is located sporadically throughout the building in small mechanical closets. 

Lighting:  The lighting has an industrial theme.  The fixtures used are simple and edgy.  Black, white and aluminum track is used to accentuate walls throughout the lobby.  Industrial luminaires and bare par lamps are placed in the theatre, circulation areas and office suite.  Self ballasted compact fluorescents were used in many of the industrial jelly jars fixtures for a more efficient solution than incandescent.  There is a 22’ high light wall, which is lit with bare pars shining down behind semi-translucent laminate panels. 90% of the fixtures in the space are halogen incandescent.  In the “working” spaces such as the shop, costume rooms and office suites fluorescent pendants were an efficient solution.    

Electrical:  All panelboards are run at 208/120 volt.  There are (2) 2000A switchboards.  One is servicing all mechanical equipment and motors, while the other is servicing the lighting/dimming and general equipment.  There is one transformer used for two fused disconnect switches, which control the audio visual equipment.        

Transportation: There is one passenger elevator for patrons in the theatre.  The elevator goes from the lower level of the lobby to the street level, and up to the vestibule of the office area.  The elevator is 27 KVA and protected by a 150 A circuit breaker.   There is one freight elevator located in the shop.  This elevator is 36 KVA and protected by a 200 A circuit breaker.

Fire Alarm System: The fire alarm system has many different components. Some of these include speakers, smoke detectors, heat detectors, manual pull stations, strobe lights and door holders. There are combination fire alarm signaling devices with ADA strobe lights in all public areas.  In addition, many of these areas include smoke detectors and extra ADA strobe lights.  Manual pull stations are located in the lobby and A/V room.  Fire alarm interface devices are connected to the air handling units and the audio visual panel (TP).

Telecommunications and Audio Visual:  The complete sound, communications and video system is split in four groups based on the different levels and type of audio visual signals.  The four groups are microphone and other sensitive wiring; line level wiring; loudspeaker and control wiring; and telephone, video, control and digital systems.   The theatre needed a very flexible sound system to meet its unique needs.  Because of the budget restraints, the focus on the design was on infrastructure.  This will give the theatre company the opportunity to expand the system in the future.  The audio visual equipment is run from the isolation transformer located in the shop.  From this transformer, a company disconnect switch is connected, along with panel TP. The equipment on this panel includes speakers, ceiling and wall panels, volume controls, speaker and video outputs, and junction boxes.  There are ceiling speakers run throughout the corridors, bathrooms, dressing rooms, wardrobe and offices on the first floor.  In the lobby on the first and second floors there are wall speakers. 

 Acoustics:  The primary challenge was that the theatre is built into a residential development.  Outdoor spaces and residences are located directly above the theatre, a parking garage below and a loading dock adjacent.  Complete room in room construction was not feasible. The current solution is to use metal acoustic baffle panels along the balcony level back wall of the theatre.