Vibrant New 41K+ SF Waterfront Events Center Located on the Coastal Olympic Peninsula and Constructed by Puget Sound-Based Builder Mortenson to Feature 500-Seat Theater, 300-Seat Conference and Events Space, Fine Art Gallery and More
Weekend-Long Grand Opening Celebrations to Include Free Outdoor Community Stage Performances by Vertical Dance Troupe BANDALOOP, Ticketed Shows from Grammy Award-Winning Musicians Diane Schuur and Ranky Tanky, and More
Port Angeles, Wash., July 21st, 2023 – Premier new waterfront arts and events venue ‘Field Arts & Events Hall’ today announced it will host its official grand opening weekend July 28th-30th, 2023, with three days of planned community celebrations including vibrant live performances, a free outdoor stage, ticketed events with Grammy award-winning musicians and more.
Located on the downtown waterfront in Port Angeles at 201 W Front St., the 41,600 sq. ft. two-story events center is dedicated to empowering the local arts community, enriching educational experiences and sparking regional economic activity as a new cultural hub with a 500-seat theatre, a 300-seat conference/events center and fine arts gallery.
“We’re so pleased to be celebrating the grand opening weekend of the Field Arts & Events Hall this summer,” said Chris Fidler, Project Director, Field Arts & Events Hall. “Mortenson has gone above the call in supporting the community in which they’ve been hired to work. From day one, they brought their varsity squad to the game—offering expert guidance that led to several key value-engineering decisions to make the Field Arts & Events Hall a great success.”
“Partnering with Field Arts & Events Hall to support their mission of creating a new home for arts and events that brings people together and strengthens the Port Angeles community has been incredibly rewarding for our team,” said Mortenson Dillon Reller, Project Manager. “Not only have we been able to enhance the broader Port Angeles creative community in building this ambitious, privately-funded project—we’ve also helped to maximize economic impact for Port Angeles and the surrounding area by employing a local workforce and increasing community revenue throughout the process.”
With architectural gestures designed to capture the spectacular natural environment of Port Angeles—framed by the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Olympic Mountains—the new ‘Field Arts & Events Hall’ public space provides wrap-around views of the city, water and mountains. Features designed to elevate the arts and creativity within the Port Angeles include:
- A 500-seat multi-purpose theater with capabilities for hosting local, regional, national and international music and performance artists;
- A state-of-the-art waterfront conference and events space designed to suit groups from 20 to 300;
- A 1,000 SF fine art gallery and events space suitable for groups of up to 100
- A multi-purpose meeting space, The McGraw Family Foundation Room, suitable for up to 75
Constructed by Seattle-based general contractor Mortenson, the space utilizes multiple structural components including concrete, concrete masonry unit (CMU), steel and structural timber framing throughout the events space enclosed in a rain screen panel system and curtain wall, with beams auctioned for donor plaque placement to help raise project funds.
To celebrate the grand opening of the new venue, free and ticketed grand opening events are planned throughout the last weekend in July, including a Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Welcoming Ceremony, Gallery Opening and Reception featuring the new “Creations of Klallam People” exhibit on Thursday, July 27th—with more details about all events available at the Field Arts & Events Hall website.
The builder for the Field Arts & Events Hall was Mortenson; the architect and designer of record was LMN Architects; the project engineers were Swenson Say Faget (Structural) and Stantec (MEP and Low Voltage); and the landscape architect was Walker Macy. PAWC partners include the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe and Marine Discovery Center.
As the first of three buildings dedicated to the arts, culture and science planned for the Port Angeles Waterfront Center campus (PAWC), the Field Arts & Events Hall was made possible through generous donations from Port Angeles locals Donna M. Morris and Dorothy Field, along with many corporate and individual donors.
About Field Arts & Events Hall
With a focus on bringing people together and strengthening the community, the Field Arts & Events Hall aims to inspire, nurture and empower the Port Angeles arts community, enrich local cultural and educational experiences, and spark economic activity throughout the region.
About Mortenson
Mortenson is a U.S.-based, top-20 builder, developer, and engineering services provider serving the commercial, institutional, and energy sectors. Since establishing operations in Seattle over 40 years ago, Mortenson continues to lead and build complex, forward-thinking facilities in the Pacific Northwest. Mortenson’s expanding portfolio of integrated services helps its customers move their strategies forward, ensuring their investments result in high-performing assets. The result is a turnkey partner, fully invested in the business success of its customers.
