Amid the rolling landscape of the Berkshires in Massachusetts resides Jacobs Pillow, a place where dance and the natural landscape come together. As the dance and performing arts venue enters its second century of operation it is reimagining its famed Doris Duke Theatre. The new facility, designed by Mecanoo will open to the public on July 9, 2025 with programming that will carry on throughout the summer, maintaining its legacy as Americas longest-running international dance festival. Originally the site of a former studio theatre in the 1990s the Doris Duke Theatre will be rebuilt to occupy a larger footprint of approximately 20,000 square feet compared to the former 8,500-square-foot building that burned down in 2020. The new theater will seat anywhere from 220 to 400 patrons, with extended configurations to support a wide range of performances, events, residencies, and makerspaces.The Dorris Duke Theatre is being rebuilt after it burned down in a fire. (Courtesy Jacobs Pillow)Elevating the spatial and acoustic design, alongside Mecanoo, are Marvel, in the role of local architect and landscape architect, and acoustic consultant firm Charcoalblue. Their design embodies the natural patterns of the landscape and takes advantage of the venues idyllic, rural setting, harnessing the fluctuation of light that comes with each season. Overall, the design team seeks to create a harmony between the rhythm of nature and the creativity of the body. The timber structure, clad in thermally treated pine, will be designed to age along with the landscape dotted with trees and other vegetation, and rainwater will be collected for reuse. Inside the theater, a spatial audio system will be upgraded, and an infrared camera to track performers during live performances will be added among other advanced technologies to support a wide range of digitally enhanced creative experiences.A performing space is clad in wood and windows afford views of the landscape. (Courtesy Jacobs Pillow)To honor the sites Indigenous roots, and recognize the Indigenous knowledge that inform Jacobs Pillow, a garden and communal fire pit designed by Indigenous artists reside on the East side of the theater.Construction work is underway on the new theater and it will open in July 2025. (Robert Benson/Courtesy Jacobs Pillow)At the heart of the new Doris Duke Theatre lies a celebration of movement, space, and connection, said Francine Houben, Mecanoos creative director and founding partner, The new theater captures the essence of dance, not only as an art form but as a deeply human experience intertwined with the landscape and community. Rooted in the rolling hills of the Berkshires, the theater honors the rich heritage of Jacobs Pillow while pushing the frontiers of the performing arts. The design draws on the rhythms of nature, mirroring the fluidity and grace of dancers.