Seattle Center today issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking a long term tenant for the Seattle Center Playhouse, currently occupied by Intiman Theatre. The building, constructed for the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, contains a 446-seat auditorium, gracious lobby spaces, a large meeting room, workshop area, a variety of support spaces, and a 3,500 square foot studio/rehearsal hall added in 1998. Seattle Center must receive proposals for future use of the facility by July 13, 2012. It is anticipated the Playhouse will be available for occupancy on January 1, 2013.
The RFP review panel, made up of members of the Seattle Center Advisory Commission, will evaluate the proposals in the context of two primary goals, to secure a financially stable tenant that will effectively manage, operate and maintain the Playhouse; and to use the facility to support and foster the presentation of artistic and cultural activities in Seattle.
The RFP and any subsequent addenda or announcements are available at http://ebidexchange.com/seattle. A list of all inquiries and responses will be published periodically on the ebid website as an addendum. Proposers must complete a free registration prior to viewing, printing and saving the RFP and notices to their own equipment at no cost.
The Playhouse has a long and distinguished history as a theater venue. Following the World’s Fair, in 1963, the building became home to the newly formed Seattle Repertory Theatre. When the Theatre moved to its new facility in 1982, the Playhouse was rented on a short term basis until 1986, when it underwent a $1.2 million renovation and reopened in 1987 as home to Intiman Theatre. In 1998 Intiman funded the addition of the studio/rehearsal hall on the south side of the building. Intiman Theatre’s tenancy will end in 2012.
The Seattle Center Century 21 Master Plan completed in 2008 designates the Playhouse as part of the Theatre District Zone, which emphasizes the vitality of the performing arts organizations along Mercer Street. The District is intended to create a unique place that embodies the power and excitement of the performing arts, both an urban environment and the edge of the Seattle Center campus. For more information on the Playhouse, visit www.seattlecenter.com or call 206 615-0358.
About Seattle Center
Since its beginning 50 years ago, Seattle Center has served as a cultural and civic gathering place at the core of our region. In 2012, The Next Fifty at Seattle Center celebrates the 50th anniversary of the 1962 World’s Fair and the physical legacy it left. The 74-acre Seattle Center campus exists to delight and inspire the human spirit in each person and bring together our rich and varied community. The 12 million visits to Seattle Center each year generate $1.15 billion in business activity and $387 million in labor income for King County.
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