THE THEATER Construction of the current Santa Fe Opera theater began at the close of the 1997 opera season and was completed in less than one year, in time for the traditional opening night the following summer. The celebrated architectural firm James Stewart Polshek and Partners designed the building; Purcell & Noppe & Associates were the project acousticians. The striking, state-of-the-art, contemporary building, whose roof can be seen from the highway below, has won several important design awards. The theater commands nearly a 360-degree panorama of breathtaking scenery, with the Jemez mountains to the west and the Sangre de Cristos to the east. The seating capacity of the theater is 2,128 with standing room for an additional 106 patrons. The theater sits on a portion of the 155 acres that make up The Santa Fe Opera grounds. The company is unusual in that it owns all of its facilities and is responsible for their maintenance and upkeep. The theater itself is one of the most complete in the country. The combined area of the sweeping stage and mezzanine roofs covers 26,615 square feet with a clerestory joining the two roofs. The "shape of the sound" inspired the roof concept. Its curves directly follow the acoustic reflections of sound from the stage to the audience. Another advantage of the large roof is its capability to collect rainwater; approximately 60,000 gallons can be stored annually and used to maintain the opera grounds. STIEREN ORCHESTRA HALL In 2001, Stieren Orchestra Hall, a gift of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Stieren, was constructed. The 12,650-square foot, three story building, also designed by Polshek and Partners, provides rehearsal space for the opera orchestra and serves as the venue for the Prelude Talks which are offered to audience members before most performances. It also contains climate controlled storage for the company’s costume collection and private rehearsal studios. It has, in addition, become a community center for the company, hosting lectures, special events, and recitals, as well as activities by other arts organizations. THE OPERA ENVIRONMENT The Santa Fe Opera is acutely aware of its fragile environment and has long pioneered in ways to conserve and protect the landscape. The wetland sewage treatment system, begun in 1994, processes more than 6,000 gallons per day and returns 500,000 gallons of processed effluent annually into the surrounding environment. The Opera, in collaboration with the County of Santa Fe, is currently constructing a new, state-of-the-art water treatment plant. Increasingly the opera landscape is being converted to include drought-tolerant plants.