Colorado Real Estate Journal - September 21, 2016
Semple Brown announced that construction began in August on the town of Winter Park’s new permanent stage to be located in the Hideaway Park Events Space in downtown Winter Park. In spring 2014, Winter Park contracted with Semple Brown to design a permanent stage that would accommodate the existing uses of the summer concert and event series while allowing future programs to grow and accommodate year-round usage into the future. Semple Brown’s design features a 2,600-square-foot handicapped accessible stage; it will replace the park’s demountable structure used since 2008 for summer festivals and a variety of events programming. “This was such a special project for our design team as we all love Colorado’s mountain communities and understand their significance to our state,” said Tom Gallagher, AIA, principal of Semple Brown. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the town of Winter Park, and to have created a design inspired by their long-term vision for their community and Hideaway Park.” The stage, a concrete and stone structure, will rise from a solid, earth-bound base. A large, dynamic canopy emulating “first tracks,” drifts and moguls – consisting of white painted steel, a white membrane roof and wood slat ceiling – will float over the stage as it gently twists and curves skyward over the stage and structures below, according to Semple Brown. The front of the stage cascades down into the seating bowl to lessen the impact of its sightline-required height and provide seating areas facing back into the bowl to activate the stage during the nonfestival uses. Because the bowl will be used as a sledding hill during the winter, the front stage seat-steps will provide a place for observers to watch the action and as they enjoy a panoramic view of the ski mountain and Continental Divide to the south. A fully heated and cooled green room building opens onto a backstage plaza, which looks out on Vasquez Creek through oversized operable glass walls. The structure includes 835 sf of assembly space, a kitchen, two restrooms, make-up area and mechanical room. Backstage loading and side stage monitor-mixing structures frame the main stage and serve as stone-clad anchors for the stage and soaring, undulating roof. A 12-space paved parking area and backstage loading complete the park’s master plan. Completion is projected for July 2017. The general contractor is Big Valley Construction.