US City Approves Plans for New Arts Centre

The Orlando City Council has approved plans for the construction of the first phase of the Dr Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando, Florida, US.

The first phase of the arts centre will feature a 2,700-seat amplified Disney auditorium for touring Broadway shows and a 300-seat community theatre for local groups.

The Disney auditorium features blue side walls and ceiling that simulate an evening sky while the major surfaces in the room feature cherry wood and woven copper.

The community theatre is designed in a horseshoe configuration with a thrust stage that is flexible enough to host different performance genres.

The balcony facades in the theatre are made from aluminium with specks of back lit glass that create an illusion of stars encircling the room.

Construction costs for the project are estimated at $201.6m while design costs for phases one and two are estimated at $76m.