Louise Ferguson Hall, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Tampa Bay, Florida, USA

Louise Ferguson Theatre is the second largest of the five theaters at the David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts. Construction of this facility commenced in April 1984. Only three years later, in September of 1987, the center was formally opened with gala performances by the National Ballet of Canada, the Florida Orchestra, and singers of the New York City Opera. The center, situated on nine acres in downtown Tampa on the banks of the Hillsborough River, includes Carol Morsani Hall, Jaeb Studio Theatre, Shimberg Playhouse, and a large rehearsal hall.

The 1042-seat Louise Ferguson Theatre is inspired by a traditional Italian horseshoe open house design with two balconies with tiers of seats stretching along each side of the auditorium. It can accommodate opera, dance, and drama, as well as chamber music and film. This theater opened with a six-week pre-Broadway run of the musical "Teddy and Alice," featuring Len Cariou. Adjustable acoustical systems in the Hall include acoustical curtains on all boundary surfaces and an acoustical "wall" (acting as an orchestra shell) located at the proscenium arch that is deployed for music performances.

Artec provided Design and Planning services covering Pre-Design Phase services, Auditorium Design, Background Noise and Vibration Control and Facility Planning consulting services for the David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts. The architect for the Center was D. Fred Lebensold, ARCOP.