The United States Institute for Theatre Technology has singled out the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center in La Jolla for special kudos.
The Conrad, as the center is known, owned and operated by La Jolla Music Society, received one of two 2024 Architecture Honor Awards at the institute’s annual conference in Seattle.
Opened in 2019, the center was designed by Epstein Joslin + Picardy Architects, with guidance from Theatre Consultants Collaborative and Nagata Acoustics. The San Diego firm JWDA was the architect of record and collaborated with Epstein Joslin on the design.
The Conrad includes the Baker-Baum Concert Hall, which seats 481, the JAI cabaret-style performance space, with table seating for 140, and the Wu Tsai QRT.yrd, which hosts free events such as a community concert series and open houses.
The facility also houses the offices of the La Jolla Music Society, offstage and backstage spaces and a full catering kitchen.
In addition to hosting more than 80 music society events each year, the Conrad is available for rental; the venue saw more than 150 rental days in 2023, ranging from classical music and ballet performances to fundraising galas and high school proms.
“This stunning facility is a fitting home to the world-class performances of the La Jolla Music Society and the building raises the level of performing arts in La Jolla, in California, and across the country,” Laura Lee Everett, executive director of the institute, said in a news release.
Todd Schultz, president and CEO of the music society, called the honor “a recognition of the care and thoughtfulness that went into the design and construction of the Conrad.”
“Since we opened, we have received many compliments about the Conrad, from the artists performing on our stages to the audience members enjoying the experience, and now this award. We’re very grateful,” he added.
Alan Joslin, FAIA, and Deborah Epstein, founding design principals at Epstein Joslin+Picardy Architects, said they were “honored at the recognition” from the institute.
“We have been most thrilled by the energy and talent with which the La Jolla Music Society has been able to infuse the setting, and the enthusiasm felt by its audiences,” they said in a statement. “Of course, the project’s true success comes from the vision provided by the La Jolla Music Society and the support of an inspiring design team.“