The Pittsburgh Opera's new digs on Liberty Ave.

The Pittsburgh Opera is almost done with its move from its Downtown offices to its new, huge complex in the Strip District. Our intrepid videographer, Michael Henninger, shot a short video last week, if you want to get a sense of the enormity of the transfer. With many costumes, scores, computers, files and sets, this is not your standard house move.

I toured the spectacular-looking brick warehouse a few weeks ago and I truly think it has the chance to transform the company. The roughly 40,000 square foot building is really two separate long buildings adjoined. The space will allow for more rehearsals (because it won't be sharing the Benedum Center rehearsal space with other groups and because there will be two large rehearsal halls) and will reduce logistical problems since everyone and everything will be in the same space. There is a extensive second-floor space with everyone's cubicals and offices (very stylish, I might add, from an earlier renovation -- a sort of urban/rough-hewn look highlighted by a meeting room with at garage door!). It should help the organization financially, too, since the Pittsburgh Opera will own the building and not have to rent it or rehearsal space (it plans on raising $8 million to cover the sale, the renovation and maintenance of the building).

When I wrote for the Star Tribune of the Twin Cities in the 1990s, the Minnesota Opera had just moved into a massive space in the Minneapolis warehouse district which helped that regional company grow (even in fundraising since it could hold parties there). The Minnesota Opera eventually built sets there and while the Pittsburgh Opera isn't yet planning that yet, I would imagine it will be in its future.

In any case, there is something to be said for that horrid word that gets bounced around still, "synergy." If ever there is reason to apply it, it is in a case like this new building, in which efficiency will likely lead to even better artistry for the Pittsburgh Opera.