Bainbridge Island, Washington, USA
Nestled in the heart of Bainbridge Island, the newly reimagined Buxton Center for Bainbridge Performing Arts, designed by LMN Architects, stands as a beacon of culture and community.
This 16,700-square-foot facility blends contemporary aesthetics with the island’s natural landscape, featuring a striking wave-form roof, expansive wood-and-glass curtain walls, and a fully modernized auditorium.
For its architectural beauty, the project has been awarded with a 2024 American Architecture Award by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.
the center champions sustainability with a rooftop solar array, energy-efficient systems, and a focus on local materials.
More than just a theater, the Buxton Center strengthens the civic and artistic fabric of Bainbridge Island, offering a dynamic space for performances, education, and community gatherings.
The Buxton Center is a state-of-the-art cultural space intended to facilitate a stronger connection to the civic heart of Bainbridge Island.
A wood and glass curtain wall encloses the two-story lobby space, immersing patrons in the lush woodland landscape during the day, and at night, creating a welcoming beacon.
The adjacent flexible studio is envisioned to serve as a separate performance venue and act as a primary home to the Bainbridge Performing Arts Theatre School program.
A dramatic wave-form roof and ceiling plane of expressed wood structure ties together the program spaces and gives the building a clear identity.
The overhauled auditorium includes a reconfigured seating bowl with sound and light locks, better sightlines, and improved accessibility for all patrons.
The redesign of the auditorium also includes new finishes and energy-efficient lighting, along with revitalized support spaces and building systems.
The team prioritized sustainability and creating a connection to the island’s history and ecology.
Featuring natural tones and material choices, the project celebrates the landscape and architectural history of Bainbridge Island.
Wood hues and accents in the lobby ceiling and floors are juxtaposed with blackened steel fixtures, while the auditorium entrances are marked by red highlights.
The Center’s new community gathering space is furnished with a custom-built bar and concessions area, produced by a local woodworker using salvaged timber from the Bloedel Reserve.
The second level features a small communal area that overlooks the studio and lobby below.
Targeting LEED Gold certification, the Buxton Center includes a rooftop solar array, an expanded rain garden, and a more efficient HVAC system.
The renewed Buxton Center aims to strengthen the public connection within the downtown—creating a cultural and civic campus, including City Hall, Town Square and its weekly farmer’s market, and the Island’s Historical Museum.
The Buxton Center is set to reinvigorate the local arts community and continue enriching the cultural heart of Bainbridge Island.
Project: The Buxton Center for Bainbridge Performing Arts
Architects: LMN Architects
Lead Architect: Julie Adams
Design Team: Michael Day, John Aldredge, Cameron Irwin, David Backs, Chris Patterson, Kjell Anderson, Veronica Macalinao, Dean Clark, Wendy Pautz, Erik Perka, Todd Schwisow, Mark Tumiski, and Jenni Whitney
General Contractor: Carley Construction Inc.
Client: Bainbridge Performing Arts
Photographers: Lara Swimmer/Esto
