Seattle Center’s Theater Commons, one of the earlier Century 21 Master Plan projects, will be celebrating its grand opening this afternoon, Tuesday, June 15 from 4 to 6 p.m. on the Seattle Center campus.

In an effort to “open and beautify” the north entry to the campus, the Center, the Seattle Repertory Theatre and Intiman Theatre teamed up to redevelop the 1.6 acre parcel of land that had been previously used as a parking lot and service access route to the main grounds. The new design provides more open public space, and creates a welcome home between the two theaters on each side.

The project embraces new campus-wide planning and design goals by improving pedestrian access to and through the campus, adding open space and promoting sustainable site development.

A tree lined pedestrian corridor runs the length of the Theater Commons between the Seattle Repertory Theatre and Intiman Theatre. Gardens flank the corridor creating an engaging natural experience for passersby. A terraced seating area at the south end of the site replaces a steeply sloping lawn and can be used for small everyday gatherings, theater receptions, or public events and performances. An attractive vehicle turnaround and small accessible parking court at the north end offer a more hospitable welcome for theater patrons.

A new stairway and canopied walkway provide a more dignified entry from Mercer Street to the Seattle Rep box office and main lobby. Secondary entrances for the Intiman Theatre are highlighted on the east side of the Commons. Creative lighting at night evokes a moonlit garden as patrons enter and leave the theaters.

The central garden at Theater Commons will be dedicated as the Donnelly Gardens, after the late civic arts leader Peter Donnelly, at a ceremony this afternoon. A temporary art installation by artists Annie Han and Daniel Mihalyo will also be unveiled at the opening. The sound and visual installation will cover the entire main walkway of the Commons and will remain in place through the rest of the summer.

The project, entitled Windfall, places thousands of small bells in the street trees along the main pedestrian corridor, enclosing it in sounds and significantly altering the experience of walking through the long passage way. The fluttering lightweight bells/chimes, also known as Furin, will add a sea of color to the green landscape, mimicking a large flock of small birds weaving through the tree canopy.

The opening will begin with a musical procession to the site at 4 p.m. There will also be street performances, site tours and a ceremony acknowledging and thanking project participants. Opening speakers will include Seattle Center Director Robert Nellams, City of Seattle Deputy Mayor Darryl Smith, Seattle Repertory Theatre Managing Director Benjamin Moore and Intiman Theatre Managing Director Brian Colburn. The speaking portion of the program will be held from 4:30 to 5 p.m. Site tours will begin at 5 p.m.

Attendees are invited to gather on the Seattle Center campus at the intersection of 2nd Ave N and August Wilson Way (right between the Seattle Repertory and Intiman) at 4 p.m., where the procession will begin. If it’s raining, the program will move into the lobby of the Seattle Rep. Read up on the Theater Commons project here.

Seattle Center will also be officially opening and dedicating Center Square, the former site of the north Fun Forest, from 3 to 4 p.m. today. The 3-acre space has recently been transformed to include a saddle span tent for outdoor performances and shade from the summer sun, children’s straw maze, basketball court, labyrinth, free play equipment, picnic tables and an outdoor kid’s exhibit from The Children’s Museum on organic container gardening. Swing by and check it out!