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TED Theater

Vancouver, BC

11

Cultural

A temporary, portable venue for TED’s annual conference required some theatrical experimentation. The nonprofit organization devoted to “Ideas Worth Spreading” invited Rockwell Group to design and build a theater within the Vancouver Convention Centre’s 45,000-square-foot ballroom.

Client
TED Conference
Project Category
Cultural
Selected Press
1
Staircase at TED Theater.
A woman is on stage at TED theater.

The concept grew from the remarkable experiences fostered by TED: Live talks that let the speaker and audience share a communal learning experience.

Audience view of stage at TED theater.
Proximity creates a communal experience like that of a campfire.
TED Vancouver (17)
A variety of seating options—benches, lounge seating, beanbags and chairs—are all less than 80 feet from the stage, and let viewers sit where they feel most comfortable.

The venue has the ephemeral magic of theater, but with the attention to detail given to permanent architecture—allowing TED to reuse it for years to come.

Exterior of TED Theater etrance.
Construction of the TED theater.

A five-day assembly schedule heightened the excitement leading up to the conference.

Outdoor theater construction scene.
RockwellTheatreBuild RyanLash RL5D9123
Detail of numbered wooden beams for construction.