The Annette Strauss Square forms part of the AT&T Performing Arts Center, completing the ensemble of performance venues in the arts district. Its redesign creates an external performance park for popular music and dance, while also offering the opportunity to bring the neighbouring Symphony and Opera to a wider audience.
Among the improvements made to the new Annette Strauss Square is a permanent sound system directing sound to the audience in the performance lawn area. A new stage enclosure provides improved lighting and scene staging opportunities, and generous storage for equipment and seats. With a separate designated truck dock, the loading of performance equipment is a fast and seamless process. The performance lawn is graded down towards the stage to improve sight lines, and both permanent and temporary restroom facilities are discreetly located to the rear of the lawn for patrons’ use during performances. Elevated side terraces also provide excellent stage views and a platform for beverage and concession stands.
The integrated lighting within the hard landscaped areas is a continuation of the site lighting scheme for the Plaza and the overall center, unifying and consolidating the different elements within the scheme. Concrete site walls border the performance lawn, sheltering the audience from the traffic noise of Woodall Rodgers freeway, while also creating a permanent ticketing boundary, replacing the old temporary fencing. Annette Strauss Artist Square will attract a diverse cross section of the Dallas population and in so doing will ensure that the center becomes a real destination for the community as well as the vehicle for the continued support and growth of all of the performing arts in Dallas.
