Samuel H. Scripps Theatre Centre

Specialty mass timber connection design for a landmark open-air theatre in New York.

Client: Art Massif

Location: Garrison, NY, USA

Project Type: Buildings

About This Project

The Samuel H. Scripps Theatre Centre (also known as the Hudson Valley Theatre) is a 14,850-square-foot open-air performance venue for Hudson Valley Shakespeare in Garrison, New York. Designed by Studio Gang Architects, the theatre provides a permanent home for the company after nearly four decades of seasonal performances at Boscobel House and Gardens. The venue accommodates approximately 475 patrons beneath a sweeping mass timber grid shell roof, with concentric glulam framing that complements the surrounding landscape and frames views of the Hudson River.

ISL provided specialty structural engineering services as a subconsultant to Art Massif, the project’s mass timber fabricator. Working alongside structural Engineer of Record Thornton Tomasetti, ISL’s Mass Timber Structures team designed nine connection types joining the curved and straight glulam roof framing to prefabricated A-frame timber columns. The scope included detailed connection design, sealed engineering calculations, and 3D Cadwork models for integration into the master fabrication model.

 

The complex roof geometry required careful evaluation of structural load paths and connection forces. Using the Engineer of Record’s global structural analysis model, ISL identified governing connection forces and applied engineering judgement to address load combinations not fully defined by the model. The team documented design assumptions and coordinated closely with Art Massif to support accurate connection detailing and structural performance.

To meet the project’s accelerated schedule, ISL delivered the connection designs through three phased packages, participated in weekly coordination meetings, and reviewed steel and glulam shop drawings within its scope. This collaborative approach supported the transition from detailed engineering to fabrication and construction.

The theatre opened to the public in May 2026 and is targeting LEED Platinum certification, demonstrating how innovative mass timber design can support architectural expression and sustainability objectives in cultural facilities

Key Features

  • 15,850 sq.ft. open-air theatre
  • ~475-seat performance venue
  • Curved mass timber grid shell roof
  • 9 specialized glulam connection types
  • 3D Cadwork modelling and fabrication detailing
  • Complex structural load path analysis