Temporary support columns were removed from the Wyly Theater structure Wednesday

by Laura Seewoester

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The construction team participated in what could be considered the world's largest game of Jenga.

Construction on the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre is moving along quite nicely. The construction team removed the 6 temporary support columns from the structure Wednesday. All of the building's weight is now fully supported by its one concrete wall and and six concrete "super columns," making the theater center a column-free structure. The removal of the support columns signifies the completion of the building's structure, and this is the first building in the world of its kind. This style of structure will create a performance chamber called Potter Rose Performance Hall that will be encased entirely in glass so pedestrians can view the operation of the theater. The glass walls will also have shade controls so the Dallas skyline can be either integrated into or omitted from each performance. (I wonder if/when the passerby's will also be used as part of performances, kind of like Esther's Follies on 6th Street in Austin. Obviously the possibilities are endless with this facility.)

The Wyly Theatre is one of the three venues that is a part of the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts in the Dallas Arts District downtown. The building (designed by REX/OMA, Joshua Prince-Ramus and Pritzker Prize-winning architect Rem Koolhaas) transcends a traditional theater building with a vertical, "stacked" design. The building will also have a mechanized "superfly" pulley system that will be able to pull scenery and seating up and down very quickly, allowing art directors a lot of freedom to work with many different and quickly changing sets (Hello, avant-garde theater). The theater is on the south side of the CDPA's performance park.