• © courtesy of San Diego Symphony

    © courtesy of San Diego Symphony

  • © courtesy of San Diego Symphony

    © courtesy of San Diego Symphony

  • © courtesy of San Diego Symphony

    © courtesy of San Diego Symphony

  • © courtesy of San Diego Symphony

    © courtesy of San Diego Symphony

  • © courtesy of San Diego Symphony

    © courtesy of San Diego Symphony

  • © courtesy of San Diego Symphony

    © courtesy of San Diego Symphony

  • © courtesy of San Diego Symphony

    © courtesy of San Diego Symphony

  • © courtesy of San Diego Symphony

    © courtesy of San Diego Symphony

  • © courtesy of San Diego Symphony

    © courtesy of San Diego Symphony

  • © courtesy of San Diego Symphony

    © courtesy of San Diego Symphony

  • © courtesy of San Diego Symphony

    © courtesy of San Diego Symphony

  • © courtesy of San Diego Symphony

    © courtesy of San Diego Symphony

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Leisure

The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, San Diego

Shell design from 2012 London Olympics expanded to accommodate a large orchestra with chorus and soloists as a permanent structure on the Embarcadero Marina Park South site

by Alison Carter 26 January 2022 Performing Spaces

The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park was developed through a collaboration between the San Diego Symphony and leading design and construction experts.

Soundforms, as designer of the performance shell, was been a key partner in the design process. Soundforms and its London partners Flanagan Lawrence, Expedition and ES Global designed the award-winning mobile acoustic performance shell (MAPS) for the 2012 London Olympics. Working together with Tucker Sadler Architects, the Soundforms design was expanded to accommodate a large orchestra with chorus and soloists as a permanent structure on the Embarcadero Marina Park South site.  

Tucker Sadler Architects was the lead designer and architect of record for the venue, and Greg Mueller, the firm’s CEO and Design Principal, has been involved with the project from its inception 18 years ago. The team have been responsible for The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park as a whole, encompassing the performance shell, backstage artist support spaces, three professional kitchens, underground restrooms, a gracefully sloped seating area for up to 10,000, and a park open to the public between San Diego Bay and the San Diego skyline.  

Sound Consultant Shawn Murphy worked closely with San Diego Symphony CEO Martha Gilmer and the entire design team to ensure the creation of the best possible acoustic environment.  Berkeley-based Meyer Sound designed the signature Constellation on System, used here in its first outdoor installation, which creates an onstage acoustic equivalent to the highest standard of indoor concert halls, which with the custom designed L-Acoustic surround reinforcement system creates an extraordinary sonic experience for audiences.   

Another key partner in creating the performance shell is the Australia-based company Fabritecture, who developed and oversaw the technical design, fabrication and installation of the tensile structure of the performance shell, as well as the backstage support spaces,  executive kitchen, the box office and two dining pavilions.  

Two further design partners are HLB, responsible for the architectural lighting design, and  Schuler Shook, designers of the theatre lighting and rigging. 

Flanagan Lawrence Soundforms Tucker Sadler Architects
United States California
Sector Leisure

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