A temporary, portable venue for TED’s 30th annual conference required some theatrical experimentation. The nonprofit organization devoted to “Ideas Worth Spreading” invited Rockwell Group to design and build a theater within the Vancouver Convention Centre’s 45,000-square-foot ballroom.
Imagine a pop-up theater where visionaries inspire the world.
The concept grew from the remarkable experiences fostered by TED: Live talks that let the speaker and audience share a communal learning experience.
Proximity creates a communal experience like that of a campfire.
The venue has the ephemeral magic of theater, but with the attention to detail given to permanent architecture—allowing TED to reuse it for years to come.
“It has the excitement of a pop-up place, but has the quality of a real piece of architecture.”
A five-day assembly schedule heightened the excitement leading up to the conference.
“Every piece of the theater has been built for this moment.”
A variety of seating options—benches, lounge seating, beanbags and chairs—are all less than 80 feet from the stage, and let viewers sit where they feel most comfortable.
