DG 1110.3.120
DESIGN GUIDE: MUSIC AND DRAMA CENTERS
JANUARY 1981
C H A P T E R 3: AUDIENCE SUPPORT
cilities seeking to develop audiences and ama-
ticket, and indeed without having one. In tem-
teur participation.
perate climates, this may be an outdoor shel-
tered area under a marquee or pentroof. When
Special services include a children's play area or
enclosed, it is referred to as a Lobby, which may
nursery, a library for score, script, film, tape and
communicate with one or more spaces beyond,
book collections and a lounge equipped for vis-
or with multiple performance facilities. (Termi-
ual arts exhibitions. Clearly, these functions may
nology varies; it is sometimes called a Foyer-
be regarded as extensions and variations of for-
a term this Guide uses differently below.)
mal lobby and administrative uses, but involve
consideration of fittings that may not otherwise
Activities of the public zone are arrival, vehicular
be foreseen. Moreover, inclusion of such func-
drop-off, waiting for friends or for the doors to
tions may indicate design decisions as to scale,
open, lining up for tickets or admission, pur-
arrangement and access quite different from typ-
chase of advance tickets, obtaining the season
ical audience support.
schedule or coming events information.
The extent of this zone depends on schedule con-
D. FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF
ditions and management policies. If the bulk of
AUDIENCE SUPPORT
tickets are sold at the door, accommodating lines
of people at peak hours is of concern. This can
Approved military standards furnish detailed cri-
be relieved by permitting early entry for ticket
teria for determining load capacity, exit size and
holders and provision of adequately delineated
number, fire protection, gradients, fresh air ven-
queuing areas that do not obstruct entry or exit
tilation and plumbing fixture counts generally in
of previous audience. Two separate ticket win-
dows are advised if a full schedule of events is
proportion to the number of persons assembled.
This discussion is primarily concerned with the
expected to yield advance sales.
logical order and nature of spaces.
The Lobby is an ideal information and promotion
1. Public Spaces
center generating interest in upcoming produc-
The organization of public spaces is established
tions. It may also serve as a circulation "valve"
by entry sequence and control. Two distinct
directing off-hour visitors to administrative or
zones are created by means of ticket-taking,
other spaces. If a large enough indoor space can-
which may be called the public zone and the
not be provided, ticket windows should be ac-
patron or audience zone.
cessible from outdoors with the Lobby function-
ing as a vestibule.
The public zone includes all spaces accessible
The double door vestibule is in any case impor-
from the entrance without surrendering one's
3-75
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