Instructor: Charlie O’Geen
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Program: Cinema
Term: Fall 2024 (graduate semester 1)
This studio, Institutions, focused on the design of a movie theater in an area of Ann Arbor that borders both the commercial downtown and the residential neighborhoods that abut the site. This design attempts to negotiate those conditions. The studio challenged students to use only one material for the entire project (concrete, in this case). Studies of lighting and acoustics were made using these materials to determine the most successful design strategies for the cinema. Careful consideration was also given to code analysis of occupancy and fire safety regulations.
Ultimately, this design aims to welcome in the public and invigorate a program somewhat lost to time and the COVID-19 pandemic. Its Northern facade negotiates its unique neighborhood setting and brings back a sense of grandiosity to the cinematic experience.