Boston Ballet Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen and Executive Director Barry Hughson announced today the completion of the renovation of Boston Ballet’s 19 Clarendon Street headquarters. In partnership with the Boston office of Gensler, a global architecture, design, planning and consulting firm, Boston Ballet renovated the 19 Clarendon Street building with the completion of deferred maintenance projects and needed improvements. The 19 Clarendon Street headquarters, in Boston’s historic South End, is home to Boston Ballet’s 56 company dancers, more than 160 full-time employees, and serves over 10,000 students annually through Boston Ballet School and education and outreach programs.
“The restoration of our 19 Clarendon building was a needed milestone to bring the company’s facilities up to pace with the quality of work being done in our creative spaces and administrative offices,” said Hughson. “19 Clarendon has become a hub for dance in New England, an iconic Boston building, and the home of many generations of aspiring and professional dancers from this community and around the world. We were thrilled to partner with Boston companies to maximize the possibilities of this building within the company’s means – thinking creatively and efficiently to restore the building and revitalize it for the future.”
The 19 Clarendon renovation project was led by Jeanne Nutt, Managing Director of Gensler and a member of Boston Ballet’s Board of Overseers, who donated design services for the project. Renovations included new carpet and paint throughout the building, a complete renovation of the entrance and main lobby made possible through a grant from the Amelia Peabody Charitable Fund, new furniture and revitalized spaces within the administrative offices, additional meeting spaces, a new health and wellness center including a private examination room, new music offices, and renovated dancer locker rooms. The building’s systems and infrastructure were also upgraded, including new plumbing, new roofing, and a new HVAC system that was supported in part by a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund. In addition, Boston Ballet’s computer technology was upgraded with new servers, wiring and hardware for every department. Perhaps the most striking renovation is The Eleanor and Frank Pao Board Room, a cantilevered board room located above the east side of Studio 7, Boston Ballet’s grand studio. The additional space was made possible by a generous gift from Eleanor and Frank Pao. Ms. Pao is a member of Boston Ballet’s Board of Trustees.
The renovation also includes a seating system for Studio 7, providing multi-tiered seating for 144 guests with excellent sightlines. The space will accommodate performances by Boston Ballet School students, Boston Ballet II, presentations of works by Boston Ballet, and demonstrations and lectures. Additionally, the new space will be available for rental on a limited basis for a broad range of uses, including performances by other arts organizations, and for corporate retreats and special events.
In total, vendors made more than $500,000 in in-kind donations to the project. Boston Ballet worked with Gensler, as well as WB Engineers and J. Calnan & Associates on the design and construction services. Carpet, tile and broadloom products were provided at a discounted cost from Constantine/Milliken Carpet Greg Doble. A/V services and products were provided at a discounted cost from Office Environments of New England. Furniture and office elements were provided at a discounted cost or donated from Haworth/Environments at Work, Bright/SL Group, Knoll, Bernhardt/Joe Kerwin, and Deb Evans.
Take a video tour of 19 Clarendon: www.bostonballet.org/explorebb/videos/19-clarendon.html
2011-2012 Season Tickets
Subscriptions, Group Sales tickets, and individual tickets for The Nutcracker are on sale now. Individual tickets for all other ballets go on sale on Monday, August 29. Subscriptions and individual tickets are available online 24 hours a day at www.bostonballet.org, by phone at 617.695.6955, and in person at the box office at 19 Clarendon Street, Boston, Mon–Fri, 9:30am-5pm. Tickets start at $25 for season ballets and $35 for Night of Stars and The Nutcracker. Group Sales tickets for parties of 10 or more are available through the box office at 617.695.6955.
About Boston Ballet
Since 1963, Boston Ballet has been one of the leading dance companies in the world on stage, in the studio and in the community. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen and Executive Director Barry Hughson, the Company maintains an internationally acclaimed repertoire and the largest ballet school in North America, Boston Ballet School.
Boston Ballet maintains a repertoire of classical, neo-classical and contemporary works, ranging from full-length story ballets to new works by some of today's finest choreographers. Boston Ballet's second company, Boston Ballet II, is comprised of dancers who gain experience by performing with the Company and independently, presenting special programs to audiences throughout the Northeast.
Boston Ballet School, the official school of Boston Ballet, has a long-standing dedication to excellence and access and reaches more than 10,000 students ages 2-adult each year through Boston Ballet School classes, Summer Dance Workshop, Summer Dance Program, Citydance, Taking Steps, and Adaptive Dance. The wide array of dance programs are held at three studio locations in Boston, Newton, and Marblehead with additional programs throughout New England, as well as community centers and in Boston Public Schools.
Boston Ballet gratefully acknowledges the following institutional partners:
State Street Corporation, 2011 Presenting Sponsor, The Nutcracker
The Boston Foundation
Massachusetts Cultural Council
National Endowment for the Arts
