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1 | U p d a t e o n K a l i t a H u m p h r e y s C a m p u s M a s t e r P l a n

Update on the Kalita Humphreys Campus Master Plan Progress

October 2020

Dallas Theater Center (“DTC”) began work on a Master Plan (the “Plan”) for the

Kalita Humphreys Theater and site immediately following the vote of the City Council in

June 2019 authorizing an extension of DTC’s lease of the Kalita. The Council resolution

stated that DTC should create the Plan with an independent third-party consultant, at

DTC’s expense.

DTC assembled a committee of diverse stakeholders (attached as Addendum A) to

serve on the Kalita Steering Committee, in accordance with the Council’s resolution. The

Office of Arts and Culture (“OCA”) reviewed the proposed members of the Steering

Committee and provided input before the formation of the Committee. The Steering

Committee includes representatives from the OCA, Parks Department, and Planning and

Urban Design Department. Representatives from the Katy Trail, the neighborhood, major

foundations, the theater community, as well as architects and historic preservation experts

are also on the Steering Committee.

The Steering Committee met approximately monthly, beginning in September 2019,

to consider the type of architect needed for the Plan. The Steering Committee discussed the

project’s importance to the community, including as a theater, historic architectural site

adjacent to the Katy Trail, and a park in a neighborhood that connects Uptown to

downtown and other neighborhoods. The Committee then met in January 2020 to

interview three architecture firms, and selected Diller Scafidio + Renfro (“DS+R”) as the

architects for the Plan.

Following the selection of DS+R, DTC worked alongside them and Project Managers

Hillwood Urban to assemble a team of additional experts needed to complete the Plan,

including a landscape architect (Reed Hilderbrand) and an historic preservation expert

(Harboe Architects). Duncan Fulton is serving as Owner Advisor. A full list of the experts

selected is attached as Addendum B.

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DTC and DS+R began scheduling a series of public information sessions as well as

sessions with specific interest groups so that DS+R and the rest of the team could have the

benefit of their input. In addition, DTC planned to seek the advice of the Steering

Committee to identify other individuals with specific expertise to meet with the architects

and provide knowledgeable contributions on topics including historic preservation, the

needs of the theater community and neighborhood residents, connectivity, accessibility,

equity, diversity and inclusion.

On March 4, 2020, DTC and DS+R hosted the first public information session at the

Kalita. The event was well-attended and DS+R presented examples of their work and their

initial thoughts about the Kalita project. Councilman Blewett attended in support of the

project, and the public provided input both in an “open mic” session and in writing, via

written cards at the public information session and through a website.

DTC planned for the other experts on the team to meet in Dallas and tour the Kalita,

as well as meet with various stakeholders in the following weeks, but the COVID-19

pandemic made that impossible. In addition, DTC had to cancel the remainder of its season

and has not yet been able to return to producing plays or earning revenue. DTC will not be

able to return to full production and revenue generation until it has received permission to

perform from unions with which DTC has agreements, it is safe to produce plays without

social distancing, and audiences are comfortable returning to a full theater. Based on these

complicating factors, DTC and the OCA will work together to propose a revised timeline for

completion of the Master Plan. This proposed extension will likely be equivalent to the

duration of the shutdown of theaters in response to the pandemic.

The community has generously supported DTC during this extraordinary time, and

the DTC staff continues to work to support the community, through virtual classes and

other outreach efforts, including making 2,500 donated masks. Fundraising efforts during

the pandemic have focused on keeping the theater operating and, in a position, to return to

production.

Before the pandemic, DTC raised $1.255M in cash and pledges of the approximately

$2M needed for the Plan. DTC remains committed to paying for and completing the Master

Plan, and has confirmed that the commitments are still firm, but DTC has not been able to

raise additional funds for the Plan during the pandemic.

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DS+R and the other members of the team will also need additional time to complete

the Plan because the pandemic halted progress. All members of the team remain

committed to the Plan and its successful completion. DTC still anticipates the successful

submission of the completed plan before the next City bond election, now currently

planned for 2024.

DTC is eager to continue working on the Plan to renovate the Kalita and create high-

functioning theater spaces with audience amenities, in a beautiful, accessible, natural

environment with strengthened connectivity to the Katy Trail and Dean Park.

Update on the Kalita Humphreys Campus Master Plan Progress

October 2020

Addendum A:

• Andy Smith, executive director, Texas Instruments Foundation

• Carol Glendenning, member, Clark Hill Strasburger

• Guinea Bennett-Price, co-artistic director, co-founder, Soul Rep Theatre

• Harrison Blair, president, Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce

• Hilda Rodriguez, principal architect

• Jeff Rane, artistic producer, Uptown Players

• Jennifer Scripps, director, city of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture

• Katherine Seale, architectural historian

• Linda Perryman Evans, past president and CEO, The Meadows Foundation

• Marshall Payne, founding partner and chairman of the board, CIC Partners

• Peer Chacko, director, city of Dallas Office of Planning & Urban Design

• Ramon Miguez, vice president, HDR

• Rob Little, partner, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher

• Willis Winters, former director, Dallas Parks and Recreation Department

• Zaida Basora, vice president, AIA Dallas

Addendum B:

• Hillwood Urban as Developer

• BOKA Powell as Local Architect

• Duncan Fulton as Owners’ Advisor

• Reed Hilderbrand as Landscape Architect

• Fisher Dachs Associates as Theater Consultant

• Harboe Architects as Historical Consultant

• Pacheco Koch as Civil Consultant

• Brandt as MEP Consultant

• Thornton Tomasetti as Structural Consultant

• Threshold Acoustics as Acoustical Consultant