Problem: The entrance is the public face of the theater complex. It is noticed, recognized, and then explored as a gateway to the audience's theatrical experience. In this instance, it will be the gateway to two different theatrical productions that may be occurring simultaneously.
Discussion: The location of the Miller Theatre Complex presents an opportunity for a major public face toward the traffic passing on 11th Avenue. Also, with the change in use at Grayson Hall plus the imminent development of a bus rapid transit stop at Dads' Gate, it also presents an opportunity for a very visible face to the university community.
In addition to its potential as a visual billboard, the entrance has the opportunity to help communicate what this facility is, and invite further exploration. It could convey that two theaters share the entrance. It could convey that this is a teaching theater.
This suggests that this entrance is an opportunity for visual integration of the currently disparate parts of the Villard Hall complex in a way the achieves the possbilities described above.
Solution: Design an eye-catching entrance that integrates the appearance of the Villard Hall complex of structures in a way that communicates clearly to the general public as well as to the university the nature and character of the Miller Theatre Complex.