Set Pieces

Working with a concept created by Frontier founder Paddy Harrington and editor Jennifer Sigler, I collaborated closely with Diamond Schmitt and Birkhauser to create a book that answers a big question: Why does live performance still matter? Using design details from eleven performing-arts halls created by Diamond Schmitt, we brought together case studies and the voices of noted artists and critics to reveal how architecture enhances the impact of the performing arts and evokes enduring sensory experiences. The result is equal not just a monograph, but also a manifesto.

Encompassing such major buildings as the Mariinsky II Theatre in Saint Petersburg, the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, and David Geffen Hall in New York, Set Pieces highlights Diamond Schmitt’s exceptional ability to listen to constituents, collaborate with technicians and foundries, and, in the words of principal Matthew Lella, “layer many small decisions, details, and concepts that engage the body and trigger the senses.”

At the highest level, I commissioned an essay from a Pulitzer Prize–winning critic and interviewed a Tony Award–winning stage designer. But as we made progress I was also able to oversee the book’s style guide, work with with the book’s production team, collaborate on sequencing with the book’s designer, and copy edit and proofread the final layouts.

To learn more about the book, visit Frontier’s case-study page or the page for the book on Birkhauser’s website.