Revolution Hall: Unique Geometry and Crafting Sound
Category: 2015 Event, Community

TED talks, at their best, are meant to inspire. To make people question the norm or dive deep into creative possibilities. And some talks may even spark an intense revolution of thinking. So what better place to host TEDxMtHood 2015 than the newly restored Revolution Hall?

Nestled away in an inner Southeast neighborhood, Revolution Hall is the newest premier listening room in Portland. This performing arts space within the former George Washington High School (GWHS) building on SE Stark has been extensively renovated with a new state-of-the-art sound system and lighting. Yet it retains much of the vintage fixtures and authentic history, such as the original wooden theater seats, which were salvaged and reupholstered (ah…comfortable seats!). On our planning team tour during the massive renovation, we were even able to see graffiti from the 1950s on the backstage walls — like a time capsule left by the school drama department.

GWHS was originally founded in 1906, with the current building being completed in 1924. A hub of neighborhood activity for many years, GWHS was closed in 1981. After the closing, the building was vacant, being used only for occasional special events. One large event of note was TBA, presented by the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art, which hosted this annual multiday event at the school each year from 2009 to 2012.

Fortunately, Art DeMuro, preservationist and founder of Venerable Group, championed restoration of the school and was instrumental in the property being sold by the Portland Public School District in 2013. Fast-forward to 2015: The renovation is almost complete, and the building is now leased nearly to capacity. It will house creative groups, small to large businesses, and restaurants, with Revolution Hall in the center of it all.

I had the pleasure of talking with Jim Brunberg, co-owner of Mississippi Studios and part of the management team for Revolution Hall, about how the hall compares to other venues in town. Two items came to the surface in our talk — the size and the “unique geometry” of the space.

Several venues in town are larger and many are smaller, so Revolution Hall fills a niche with its 830-seat capacity. The raked, fixed seats offer exceptional sight lines, and the wrap-around balcony helps the space feel more intimate, both from the audience perspective as well as for the performer.

About the unique geometry, Jim went on to explain that the interior of Revolution Hall is much wider in relation to the depth of the space than other halls in Portland. Most other spaces are deeper (longer from the back wall to the front of the stage) than they are wide. So this shape creates an opportunity for them to sculpt and craft the sound experience. “We’ll be able to make refinements unlike anything we’ve been able to offer before,” said Jim.

When I asked Jim why they named it Revolution Hall, he replied, “The school was named after George Washington, so revolution seemed like a great fit. Plus we hope to offer a revolution for experiencing live music and performance in Portland.” Then he added, “It’s also like the revolution — the turning — of a record.”

With all this talk about innovation, new perspectives, and maybe even some revolution, we can’t wait to experience this new space with you and our extraordinary speakers on May 2. Tickets on sale at 10:00 a.m., Monday, February 9.

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More about GWHS for the history and vintage enthusiast:

The school nurtured many notable alumni such as Portland’s original foodie and chef James Beard and scholar Linus Pauling, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Both were responsible for a bit of revolution in their respective fields.

There is no wood in its structure, being built entirely of concrete and red brick. Built to replace the previous Washington High that burned in a dramatic fire in 1922, the new school showcased fireproof construction technologies of its time.

Even after renovation is complete, many of the vintage high school elements will remain, including slate chalkboards, intercoms, lockers, and—a nostalgic favorite—the extra-large IBM clocks. 

Dianne Foster

After eloping almost 20 years ago, Dianne and her husband pulled out the old Rand McNally Atlas and found themselves in the land of lush, green and gorgeous Portland, Oregon. As a professional graphic designer, she enjoys collaboration and provides pro bono consulting and services on occasion for community-oriented groups. This is her third year to be on the TEDx planning team.