Seabury Hall | ‘A’ali’ikuhonua Creative Arts Center

New Performing Arts Facility | Makawao, Hawai'i

Designed to replace an outdated facility, Seabury Hall’s ‘A’ali’ikuhonua Creative Arts Center is located on a promontory overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Its barn-like structure echoes architectural elements seen throughout upcountry Maui. The open floor plan, large sliding doors and sensitive siting create a strong connection between interior and outdoor spaces.

Guests approach the theatre by way of a tree-lined pathway, which opens to outdoor courtyard. During productions, the courtyard serves as a back of the house area, giving guests a window into the inner workings of performances. A spacious outdoor courtyard between the theatre and dance rehearsal pavilion provides outdoor work space during the day and becomes an outdoor performance venue in the evening.

The 400-seat theatre uses an economical pre-engineered steel shed structure to offset the cost of state-of-the-art theatre technology systems, including a tensile wire grid above the house and stage. Portable platforms and retractable bleachers bring versatility, as the performance hall can be converted to proscenium, thrust, arena, or flat floor configurations. The combination of red seats, walls, and stairs and the charcoal-colored steel structure and fiberglass grating hint at the extinct Haleakala volcano nearby.

Overview of site plan
Exterior of two buildings with theater on the right with pink glow emitting and white yellow light coming from building on the left. Misty evening behind
Drawing of building from front and side angles
Exterior of theater on a misty night with neon pink and red light displayed from entrance
Section plan of theater from the front and from the side
Theater with red seats looking at stage with a grand piano and neon pink light
Site plan for building
Side angle of theater with red seats and red stadium seating to the right. Piano on stage to left with pink light glowing
Entrance of auditorium with black slatted walls and doorframes in the middle looking out to greenery
Theater with red seats and red stadium seating behind
Side angle view of exterior with large post in front looking out to misty air
Exterior of theater at dusk with light emitting. Green grass to the right along walkway

Project Information

Time Span 2007–2012

Type New Performing Arts Facility

Client Seabury Hall

Size 10,500 square feet

Cost $5.4 million

Design Team David Croteau, Principle-in-Charge; Kelley Banks, Project Architect

Local Architect Riecke Sunnland Kono Architects

Consultants Otomo Engineering (Civil Engineer); Morikawa & Associates (Electrical Engineer); Mayberry & Associates (Landscape Architect); Neal S. Nishada, PE (Mechanical Engineer); Walter Vorfeld & Associates (Structural Engineer); Theatre Projects (Theatre Design); LAB [3.2] Architecture (Interior Architect)

General Contractor Arita Poulson General Contracting

Photographer Matthew Millman

Awards USITT Architecture Honor Award (2014)

 

WAN Performing Arts Spaces Winner (2013)

BSA Honor Award for Design Excellence (2013)

AIA Honolulu Award of Excellence (2013)

AIA Honolulu Jack C. Lipman, AIA Members' Choice Award (2013)

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Seabury Hall | ‘A’ali’ikuhonua Creative Arts Center

Makawao, Hawaii

Designed to replace an outdated facility, Seabury Hall’s ‘A’ali’ikuhonua Creative Arts Center is located on a promontory overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Its barn-like structure echoes architectural elements seen throughout upcountry Maui. The open floor plan, large sliding doors and sensitive siting create a strong connection between interior and outdoor spaces.

Overview of site plan
Exterior of two buildings with theater on the right with pink glow emitting and white yellow light coming from building on the left. Misty evening behind
Drawing of building from front and side angles
Exterior of theater on a misty night with neon pink and red light displayed from entrance
Section plan of theater from the front and from the side
Theater with red seats looking at stage with a grand piano and neon pink light
Site plan for building
Side angle of theater with red seats and red stadium seating to the right. Piano on stage to left with pink light glowing
Theater with red seats and red stadium seating behind
Entrance of auditorium with black slatted walls and doorframes in the middle looking out to greenery
View of theater from roofing section, red seats below with stage box in the middle
Side angle view of exterior with large post in front looking out to misty air
Exterior of theater at dusk with light emitting. Green grass to the right along walkway
Landscaping around building with exterior in sight. Yellow orange light emits from building
Time Span 2007–2012
Type New Performing Arts Facility
Client Seabury Hall
Size 10,500 square feet
Cost $5.4 million
Design Team David Croteau, Principle-in-Charge; Kelley Banks, Project Architect
Local Architect Riecke Sunnland Kono Architects
Consultants Otomo Engineering (Civil Engineer); Morikawa & Associates (Electrical Engineer); Mayberry & Associates (Landscape Architect); Neal S. Nishada, PE (Mechanical Engineer); Walter Vorfeld & Associates (Structural Engineer); Theatre Projects (Theatre Design); LAB [3.2] Architecture (Interior Architect)
General Contractor Arita Poulson General Contracting
Photographer Matthew Millman
Awards

USITT Architecture Honor Award (2014)

WAN Performing Arts Spaces Winner (2013)

BSA Honor Award for Design Excellence (2013)

AIA Honolulu Award of Excellence (2013)

AIA Honolulu Jack C. Lipman, AIA Members’ Choice Award (2013)