The Pablo Center at the Confluence continues to impress. Not only is the facility the new center of a prospering arts scene in Eau Claire, it is also an example of energy efficiency in performing spaces.
Energy-efficient features in the building earned the Pablo Center checks totaling more than $25,000 Tuesday from Focus on Energy and Xcel Energy. The money is a financial incentive to help offset the greater cost of the more efficient equipment.
“It isn’t just about showcasing high-quality art and productions; it’s about doing so in a responsible way…that helps both the bottom line and the environment,” said Jason Jon Anderson, Executive Director of the Pablo Center at the Confluence.
The facility does not have a traditional central-air system since it houses so many separate spaces: 1,200-seat Broadway-style theater, a 400-seat black box theater, a recital hall, multiple rehearsal rooms, visual arts gallery space, scene and costume shops, labs for sound and lighting, and a recording studio. Instead, it has multiple high-efficiency air-conditioning systems. The Pablo Center also has more than 700 LED lights and fixtures, and variable frequency drives help control the energy use of its heating pumps.
