The Patricia Reser Center for the Arts (The Reser) in Beaverton, Oregon, opened in March 2022, marking a significant addition to the region’s cultural landscape. Designed by Opsis Architecture with The Shalleck Collaborative (The SC) as theatre and audio-visual consultants, this 45,000-square-foot multidisciplinary arts center built by Skanska features a 550-seat proscenium theatre inspired by the natural environment. The theatre’s interior, with its back-lit wood paneling and vivid blue seating, evokes the warmth of a beaver’s home and the serene beauty of a pond, providing both aesthetic appeal and world-class acoustics.

The Reser is a versatile venue for a wide range of performances, from orchestral concerts to theatrical productions. Because of the demand for flexible acoustics in such a multi-use space, The SC chose to outfit The Reser with a Wenger custom Diva Shell.

“Our decision to use the Diva shell as a basis for design was made early due to the Diva’s ability for customization,” says Jedd de Lucia, ASTC, principal with The SC. “The design team always wanted the acoustical shell to be a seamless and integral part of the building’s architecture.”

When in performance position, the shell continues and completes the visual story of the natural beaver environment that begins in the town of Beaverton and accompanies the audience as they enter the lobby and move into the auditorium. The shell towers and ceiling panels feature the same visual language of patterns and wood finishes sourced from the same mill as The Reser’s interior. In storage position, such as during theatrical performances, the towers can nest compactly backstage and the ceiling panels can be pivoted and raised into the fly loft.

The realization of The Reser was a community-driven effort, with significant contributions from local government, the Beaverton Arts Foundation, and over 1,000 individual donors. This collaborative project, which broke ground in late 2019, reflects the community’s long-held desire for a regional arts destination and stands as a testament to what can be achieved through shared vision and dedication.