The Jazz Market repurposed a shuttered market, creating a flexible 370-seat auditorium with a gracious lobby and an education/warm-up room within the shell of the old building. The client set clear priorities, demanding excellent natural acoustics in the auditorium while taking a more relaxed attitude towards isolation and background noise. With curving reflectors clad in salvaged wood, the performance space is a warm and exciting space, free of harshness. A high-quality audio system amplifies vocals, subtly enhances piano and bass, and makes recording easy. Retractable seating risers and built-in projection make the venue attractive for rental use. To keep the building active throughout the day, the lobby is designed to function as a social space, a jazz archive, an informal performance space, and a bar. Sliding panels allow the free flow of sound – and audience members – from the auditorium to the lobby.
