Top architects raise anticipation for Utah Performing Arts Center

Jessie Eccles Quinney Center For Dance in Salt Lake City, being designed by HKS Architects. Courtesy HKS Architects

Call them "starchitects" rock stars of architecture.

Anticipation is running high after the announcement that high-profile HKS Architects Inc. and Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects will design the $110 million Utah Performing Arts Center slated for 137 S.Main St.

Utah Performing Arts Center public input

City officials and architects of the new downtown theater are seeking public input on the project at a workshop 5:30-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, in the fourth floor conference room at the Salt Lake City Public Library, 210 E. 400 South. To sign up for the workshop, visit http://www.utahperformingartscenter.org/oct-workshop.

The 2,500-seat playhouse which will be fashioned for touring Broadway shows as well as concerts and plays is being billed as the centerpiece of the capital citys performing arts venues. Salt Lake City officials say when it opens in March 2016 it will spark new vitality downtown.

Pressure to perform? Well, maybe a little, concedes Michael Vela, managing partner for HKS in Salt Lake City. But he prefers to view it as an exciting challenge.

"People know what great architecture is, even if they cant verbalize it," he said. "There is a sense of Wow, this makes me feel great. I want to come back here. "

The Dallas-based HKS has offices in a slew of U.S. and foreign cities and boasts a combined staff of about 900.

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Top architects raise anticipation for Utah Performing Arts Center