Postcards
T
he Centro Gabriela Mistral (GAM) Performing Arts Complex in downtown San-
tiago, Chile, is expanding its wings, adding the “Gran Sala,” a new 2,000-seat
multipurpose theatre. The complex, named after Chilean poet-diplomat, edu-
cator and feminist Gabriela Mistral, is located in what was a convention center and
government building during the 1973 Chilean coup d’état. The complex was initially
remodeled in 2006 and has several existing performance venues that, along with
the new theatre, will accommodate any performance from rock concerts to operas.
This theatre will be the largest in Chile and capable of supporting large productions
that currently do not visit the country. Rather than adding a performance spaces
suited to specific uses, this theatre will be very flexible withmultiple seating config-
urations and an active acoustics system. The active acoustics system will be used to
adjust the room reverberation, clarity, bass response, etc. No matter the performance
type, the acoustics in this theatre can be adjusted to whatever sound is desired.
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B
URKETTDESIGNwas honored to be selected for this project that was funded by
the U.S. Department of Defense. This 55,000-square-foot project is the first of its
kind to lead and coordinate public- and private-sector efforts to advance the
role of women in the economic stabilization of Afghanistan. The center educates,
develops and trains Afghan women for the rebuilding of the country’s future. The
design concepts draw from the richness of the region. Sited at the new entrance
into the campus quad, the Center invites the public in with a series of cascading
steps that flow into a modern Islamic landscape of a fountain and rose bushes. The
building gestures back to the Darul Aman Palace with a patterned glass fin wall
that shrouds the top of the building like a veil. Utilizing cut marble from Herat, the
200-seat auditorium is cladded to anchor the corner. The interiors include an ornate
study in textiles, carved woods and colors, which contrasts from the more refined
architectural palette of the exterior.
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D.L. Adams: Centro Gabriela Mistral
Performing Arts Complex, Chile
• Designed by Cristián
Fernández Arquitectos in
Chile
• Partnered with LightCO
• Acoustical consulting,
theatre rigging and curtain
systems design by D.L.
Adams Associates
BURKETTDESIGN: American
University of Afghanistan Women’s
International Center
