ELS designed the NOKIA Theatre (now the Peacock Theater) to merge the capacity of an arena-sized stage (measuring more than 14,000 sf) into the intimacy of a mid-sized venue. The innovative layout puts each of the 7,100 seats in the three-level theater no further than 220 feet from the stage. ELS designed the venue’s expressionistic architectural forms to harmonize with the nearby Staples Arena. The exterior use of metal panels, concrete, and glass compliments the existing arena, while its unique scale and rhythm give the ground-up venue its own identity. The entire district is dramatically lit at night and the theater’s lobby, viewed from the plaza, pulses with an ever-changing glow. In the interior form, a restrained palette of materials, colors, and accent lighting form a backdrop suitable to any of the wide variety of events that are hosted there.

Awards

Urban Land Institute Award for Excellence in Downtown Revitalization

Urban Land Institute Global Award of Excellence

Los Angeles Business Council Architectural Award