The plan for a band shelter at the Joyner Park amphitheater consisting of steel poles and two ribbons of colored glass panels is being abandoned after sharp comments by town commissioners on June 19 and questioning by members Wake Forest Recreation Advisory Board on June 25.
“The RAB main concern was the functionality of the shell. They asked for revisions to make it functional and it will come back before them at the July 23rdmeeting,” Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department Director Ruben Wall said Monday in an email.
That June 25 meeting was the first time the advisory board members had seen the design by Jim Hirschfield. Three days after the meeting Jennifer Heintz, an architect with Clark Nexsen, the architectural and design firm for the band shelter with Hirschfield, sent out a long email backing away from the original design and setting out steps for a new design based on the complaints
That new design by Clark Nexsen will have full coverage of the stage with full shade to reduce heat to the greatest extent possible, reasonable protection from rain for equipment, instruments and performers without compromising audience view and movement of performers and a form to complement Joyner Park. Hirschfield and Sonya Ischii (Hirschfield’s wife and partner) will add art to the band shell.
On June 28 Heintz wrote, “I met with Jim and Sonja this morning and have talked with Ruben several times over that last few days. After this morning’s meeting, we (the artists and I) feel that we have options and a path forward that will be more in alignment with what the Recreation Advisory Board is imagining. I wish I had something to show you today, but it will be next week at the earliest before we have imagery. What I can tell you is that we have shifted the art focus to be an illuminated, laser-cut ceiling design under a much more simple band shell structure that Clark Nexsen will be responsible for shaping. We will be presenting a few options for the next RAB meeting as a budget for construction of the shell must still be met.”
Heintz added, “As I said on Monday, our meeting with the users on the site really helped us understand the specific issues at hand and are guiding our path forward.”
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On a different hot topic for the parks and rec department, Wall said on Monday, “The good weather has been helpful for the Aquatic Center Project.” It is not complete but progress has been made. Sunny days with no rain would help the most.
