The New Doris Duke Theatre at Jacob’s Pillow
Capturing the magic of Jacob's Pillow.
The reimagined Doris Duke Theatre builds on the rich history of the site and the former Doris Duke Theatre. The project embraces the Pillow’s diverse history to create a space for dialogue, collaboration and education that is accessible, inclusive and flexible. This balance between embracing the site and nature while pushing the boundaries of dance embodies the ambition for the Theatre and captures the magic of performing at Jacob's Pillow. Mecanoo, led by Creative Director and Founding Partner Francine Houben, is the lead architect for the new building project, in partnership with Marvel working as the architect of record and landscape architects.
The distinct identity of Jacob's Pillow comes from a rich history of both the site and festival.
“The theater’s wooden box is all about transparency—what you see is what’s holding it up. We used cross-laminated timber not only for its beauty, but also because it helped us to build sustainably. It’s rare for the structure itself to become the finish—and that’s part of what gives the space its warmth and vitality.”
Danielle Cerone, Director at Marvel
The theater adapts to difference programmatic needs and is a fusion of technology, innovation and tradition.
At the core the theater is a versatile black box space to support a wide range of artistic expressions.
It is a hub where dance will thrive.
“At our very first site visit, we fell in love with the existing outdoor dance platform that magically cantilevers into the Berkshire landscape. When our Indigenous collaborator Jeffrey Gibson gave us the design guideline ‘where the land meets the sky,’ we knew this project would be organic, borrowing from the woods and distant hills.”
Jonathan Marvel, Founding Principal at Marvel
Our vision blurs the boundaries between inside and outside, creating a series of transitions from exterior verandas to the lobbies and then theater.
The building plays with scale, light and permeability.
This creates a new relationship between the theater and the land and enhances the flexibility for the new theater and its use as a studio, performance venue, and workshop space.
The design reflects Jacob's Pillow's values of sustainability, accessibility and respect for indigenous culture.
Capturing the magic of Jacob's Pillow.
The reimagined Doris Duke Theatre builds on the rich history of the site and the former Doris Duke Theatre. The project embraces the Pillow’s diverse history to create a space for dialogue, collaboration and education that is accessible, inclusive and flexible. This balance between embracing the site and nature while pushing the boundaries of dance embodies the ambition for the Theatre and captures the magic of performing at Jacob's Pillow. Mecanoo, led by Creative Director and Founding Partner Francine Houben, is the lead architect for the new building project, in partnership with Marvel working as the architect of record and landscape architects.
The Reimagined Doris Duke Theatre is a theater and maker space for dance on the site of the former beloved Doris Duke theater that was lost to a fire in 2020.
The distinct identity of Jacob's Pillow comes from a rich history of both the site and festival.
“The theater’s wooden box is all about transparency—what you see is what’s holding it up. We used cross-laminated timber not only for its beauty, but also because it helped us to build sustainably. It’s rare for the structure itself to become the finish—and that’s part of what gives the space its warmth and vitality.”
Danielle Cerone, Director at Marvel
The theater adapts to difference programmatic needs and is a fusion of technology, innovation and tradition.
At the core the theater is a versatile black box space to support a wide range of artistic expressions.
It is a hub where dance will thrive.
“At our very first site visit, we fell in love with the existing outdoor dance platform that magically cantilevers into the Berkshire landscape. When our Indigenous collaborator Jeffrey Gibson gave us the design guideline ‘where the land meets the sky,’ we knew this project would be organic, borrowing from the woods and distant hills.”
Jonathan Marvel, Founding Principal at Marvel
Our vision blurs the boundaries between inside and outside, creating a series of transitions from exterior verandas to the lobbies and then theater.
The building plays with scale, light and permeability.
This creates a new relationship between the theater and the land and enhances the flexibility for the new theater and its use as a studio, performance venue, and workshop space.
The design reflects Jacob's Pillow's values of sustainability, accessibility and respect for indigenous culture.
The New Doris Duke Theatre at Jacob’s Pillow
Capturing the magic of Jacob's Pillow.
The reimagined Doris Duke Theatre builds on the rich history of the site and the former Doris Duke Theatre. The project embraces the Pillow’s diverse history to create a space for dialogue, collaboration and education that is accessible, inclusive and flexible. This balance between embracing the site and nature while pushing the boundaries of dance embodies the ambition for the Theatre and captures the magic of performing at Jacob's Pillow. Mecanoo, led by Creative Director and Founding Partner Francine Houben, is the lead architect for the new building project, in partnership with Marvel working as the architect of record and landscape architects.
The distinct identity of Jacob's Pillow comes from a rich history of both the site and festival.
“The theater’s wooden box is all about transparency—what you see is what’s holding it up. We used cross-laminated timber not only for its beauty, but also because it helped us to build sustainably. It’s rare for the structure itself to become the finish—and that’s part of what gives the space its warmth and vitality.”
Danielle Cerone, Director at Marvel
The theater adapts to difference programmatic needs and is a fusion of technology, innovation and tradition.
At the core the theater is a versatile black box space to support a wide range of artistic expressions.
It is a hub where dance will thrive.
“At our very first site visit, we fell in love with the existing outdoor dance platform that magically cantilevers into the Berkshire landscape. When our Indigenous collaborator Jeffrey Gibson gave us the design guideline ‘where the land meets the sky,’ we knew this project would be organic, borrowing from the woods and distant hills.”
Jonathan Marvel, Founding Principal at Marvel
Our vision blurs the boundaries between inside and outside, creating a series of transitions from exterior verandas to the lobbies and then theater.
The building plays with scale, light and permeability.
This creates a new relationship between the theater and the land and enhances the flexibility for the new theater and its use as a studio, performance venue, and workshop space.
The design reflects Jacob's Pillow's values of sustainability, accessibility and respect for indigenous culture.
Capturing the magic of Jacob's Pillow.
The reimagined Doris Duke Theatre builds on the rich history of the site and the former Doris Duke Theatre. The project embraces the Pillow’s diverse history to create a space for dialogue, collaboration and education that is accessible, inclusive and flexible. This balance between embracing the site and nature while pushing the boundaries of dance embodies the ambition for the Theatre and captures the magic of performing at Jacob's Pillow. Mecanoo, led by Creative Director and Founding Partner Francine Houben, is the lead architect for the new building project, in partnership with Marvel working as the architect of record and landscape architects.
The Reimagined Doris Duke Theatre is a theater and maker space for dance on the site of the former beloved Doris Duke theater that was lost to a fire in 2020.
The distinct identity of Jacob's Pillow comes from a rich history of both the site and festival.
“The theater’s wooden box is all about transparency—what you see is what’s holding it up. We used cross-laminated timber not only for its beauty, but also because it helped us to build sustainably. It’s rare for the structure itself to become the finish—and that’s part of what gives the space its warmth and vitality.”
Danielle Cerone, Director at Marvel
The theater adapts to difference programmatic needs and is a fusion of technology, innovation and tradition.
At the core the theater is a versatile black box space to support a wide range of artistic expressions.
It is a hub where dance will thrive.
“At our very first site visit, we fell in love with the existing outdoor dance platform that magically cantilevers into the Berkshire landscape. When our Indigenous collaborator Jeffrey Gibson gave us the design guideline ‘where the land meets the sky,’ we knew this project would be organic, borrowing from the woods and distant hills.”
Jonathan Marvel, Founding Principal at Marvel
Our vision blurs the boundaries between inside and outside, creating a series of transitions from exterior verandas to the lobbies and then theater.
The building plays with scale, light and permeability.
This creates a new relationship between the theater and the land and enhances the flexibility for the new theater and its use as a studio, performance venue, and workshop space.
The design reflects Jacob's Pillow's values of sustainability, accessibility and respect for indigenous culture.
The New Doris Duke Theatre at Jacob’s Pillow
Capturing the magic of Jacob's Pillow.
The reimagined Doris Duke Theatre builds on the rich history of the site and the former Doris Duke Theatre. The project embraces the Pillow’s diverse history to create a space for dialogue, collaboration and education that is accessible, inclusive and flexible. This balance between embracing the site and nature while pushing the boundaries of dance embodies the ambition for the Theatre and captures the magic of performing at Jacob's Pillow. Mecanoo, led by Creative Director and Founding Partner Francine Houben, is the lead architect for the new building project, in partnership with Marvel working as the architect of record and landscape architects.
The distinct identity of Jacob's Pillow comes from a rich history of both the site and festival.
“The theater’s wooden box is all about transparency—what you see is what’s holding it up. We used cross-laminated timber not only for its beauty, but also because it helped us to build sustainably. It’s rare for the structure itself to become the finish—and that’s part of what gives the space its warmth and vitality.”
Danielle Cerone, Director at Marvel
The theater adapts to difference programmatic needs and is a fusion of technology, innovation and tradition.
At the core the theater is a versatile black box space to support a wide range of artistic expressions.
It is a hub where dance will thrive.
“At our very first site visit, we fell in love with the existing outdoor dance platform that magically cantilevers into the Berkshire landscape. When our Indigenous collaborator Jeffrey Gibson gave us the design guideline ‘where the land meets the sky,’ we knew this project would be organic, borrowing from the woods and distant hills.”
Jonathan Marvel, Founding Principal at Marvel
Our vision blurs the boundaries between inside and outside, creating a series of transitions from exterior verandas to the lobbies and then theater.
The building plays with scale, light and permeability.
This creates a new relationship between the theater and the land and enhances the flexibility for the new theater and its use as a studio, performance venue, and workshop space.
The design reflects Jacob's Pillow's values of sustainability, accessibility and respect for indigenous culture.
Capturing the magic of Jacob's Pillow.
The reimagined Doris Duke Theatre builds on the rich history of the site and the former Doris Duke Theatre. The project embraces the Pillow’s diverse history to create a space for dialogue, collaboration and education that is accessible, inclusive and flexible. This balance between embracing the site and nature while pushing the boundaries of dance embodies the ambition for the Theatre and captures the magic of performing at Jacob's Pillow. Mecanoo, led by Creative Director and Founding Partner Francine Houben, is the lead architect for the new building project, in partnership with Marvel working as the architect of record and landscape architects.
The Reimagined Doris Duke Theatre is a theater and maker space for dance on the site of the former beloved Doris Duke theater that was lost to a fire in 2020.
The distinct identity of Jacob's Pillow comes from a rich history of both the site and festival.
“The theater’s wooden box is all about transparency—what you see is what’s holding it up. We used cross-laminated timber not only for its beauty, but also because it helped us to build sustainably. It’s rare for the structure itself to become the finish—and that’s part of what gives the space its warmth and vitality.”
Danielle Cerone, Director at Marvel
The theater adapts to difference programmatic needs and is a fusion of technology, innovation and tradition.
At the core the theater is a versatile black box space to support a wide range of artistic expressions.
It is a hub where dance will thrive.
“At our very first site visit, we fell in love with the existing outdoor dance platform that magically cantilevers into the Berkshire landscape. When our Indigenous collaborator Jeffrey Gibson gave us the design guideline ‘where the land meets the sky,’ we knew this project would be organic, borrowing from the woods and distant hills.”
Jonathan Marvel, Founding Principal at Marvel
Our vision blurs the boundaries between inside and outside, creating a series of transitions from exterior verandas to the lobbies and then theater.
The building plays with scale, light and permeability.
This creates a new relationship between the theater and the land and enhances the flexibility for the new theater and its use as a studio, performance venue, and workshop space.