Standing next to the original Markiinsky Theatre, the new building is one of the largest performing arts facilities in the world, providing a state-of-the-art home with more advanced technological capabilities for the renowned institution’s ballet, opera and orchestra. Its repertoire-expanding capabilities far surpass those of the original theatre, located just across a canal, which is unable to accommodate large set performances. Besides offering a world-class stage, Mariinsky II will both frame and provide a viewing platform for the old building, set to close for several years of renovation.

The 79,115-square-metre glass-and-brick building, which fills an entire city block, sits atop a time-honoured masonry base of beige Jura limestone. Earlier this month, when it opened to great fanfare – and three days of star-studded performances – Russian president Vladimir Putin declared the Mariinsky II to be in possession of “everything you need for a theatre.” Jack Diamond, principal architect in charge of the project, likewise pointed out that it is “the first major opera house to be built in Russia since the Czars.”

But the completion of a project of this massive scale (Mariinsky II racked up a bill of $700 million) is seldom smooth. In fact, Diamond Schmitt’s scheme replaced a design by Dominique Perrault, who won the initial competition in 2003. Perrault’s “golden cocoon” was found to violate several building codes, and was modified beyond recognition.

The plan was then further complicated by the discovery that the soil beneath the construction site was “unpredictable” – soft as cream cheese. Diamond Schmitt boast an impressive portfolio of major halls in Montreal, Washington D.C., Detroit, and Toronto. The last city is home to the fully glazed Four Seasons Centre, which the Russian planning team credits with earning Diamond Schmitt the Mariinsky contract.

Though Mariinsky II’s design has earned praise from all quarters, it is not without its critics. Some have compared the facade, which doesn’t strictly replicate the 19th century aesthetic of its neighbours, to that of a ubiquitous shopping mall.

But this contemporary facade belies a close adherence to the function of the district’s pre-existing architecture. Large bay windows of structural glass replicate the classically columned porticos used to identify entrances in historic St. Petersburg architecture, proportioning the building and breaking up the continuity of the streetscape in the same fashion as more traditional local structures. Yet, Mariinsky II is set apart from its neighbours with a gently curving metal roof, injecting some 21st century fluidity into the otherwise orthogonal streetscape.

Inside, Mariinsky II is all about high drama, both onstage and off. The main foyer’s multi-tiered height features a 33-metre-long glass staircase and a swooping 50-metre-long suspended spiral staircase, both surrounded by custom chandeliers, Venetian
plaster accents and walls of backlit translucent yellow onyx.

The auditorium follows the horseshoe model of opera houses from the 18th and 19th centuries, with three balconies and 2,000 seats, all with impeccable sightlines. The beech wood that lines the walls and balcony fronts, and the oak parquet flooring, contribute to unrivaled acoustics. Contrasting against these finishes, a darker rear wall draws all attention to the stage and heightens a sense of intimacy with the performers.

Backstage, the 53,000 square metres of practical space includes three fully stage-sized rehearsal rooms for the opera, ballet, orchestra and chorus; and dining and production facilities for 2,500 staff. Diamond Schmitt included one final modern touch sure to resonate with theatre-goers: the rooftop amphiteatre, which will provide outdoor summer performances set against the backdrop of the rarely-seen St. Petersburg skyline.