The Soirée team had the privilege of going behind the scenes at the Robinson to give those of you who couldn’t make it to Thursday’s grand opening a sneak peek. But trust us, you’re going to want to experience this beautiful renovation in person.
The $70.5 million renovation has been under construction since July 1, 2014, but is officially open to the public today — and on time, might we add. The design team, led by Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects of Little Rock and Ennead Architects of New York, perfectly blended the Robinson’s art deco architecture with modern touches to present a space ready to accommodate the bright future of performing arts in the city.
Framing the front steps of the Robinson, one of two sculptures has been installed, both of which will pay homage to the performing arts that will fill the space. The first sculpture, “In the Wings” by Jane Dedecker and Alyson Kinkade is a nod to Ballet Arkansas, which will take the stage on Nov. 9 for “The Nutcracker.” The second sculpture, a fiddle honoring the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, will be installed once finished.
Once inside the historic lobby, it’s clear how important it was for the architects to retain the elegance of the center’s original 1939 Art Deco past. This impressive lobby sets the tone for the rest of the renovations.
The Robinson Performance Hall is possibly the most astounding update in the building. The space now boasts two balcony levels with 14 theater boxes along the side walls complete with moveable seating, which help to get the perfect view. The stage itself was dropped 31 feet to accommodate taller props and set pieces for future theatrical productions. The hall got a color palette makeover as well. In place of the tans and beiges from before, a striking blue was chosen for the carpet and the seat backs.
Past the performance hall lies the Robinson Conference Center. The addition contains nearly 25,000 square feet of conference center space with a flexible ballroom that can accommodate up to 530 people, just in time for Opus Ball, the ASO’s annual black tie gala on Nov. 12. Upstairs are four meeting rooms with access to a 5,800-sf terrace with stunning views overlooking the Arkansas River.
We could not be more excited for the future of the Robinson Center and highly recommend getting out to see the space on Nov. 10 at 10 a.m. for the grand reveal and ribbon cutting, with tours immediately following the ceremony.