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Grand Valley State University - Performing Arts Addition

Our team was challenged to design an addition to the existing performing arts center at Grand Valley State University. This high-level performance venue includes a new black box theatre, theatre lab, rehearsal rooms, and four new ensemble rooms for the early, traditional, jazz, and percussion music programs. There’s an expanded lobby and entrance as well as patron amenities. The lobby doubles as a student lounge and provides event space inside the building.

Operating within a limited budget, we used a simple rectangular, yet highly-technical design, allowing budget dollars to be focused on the performance of the building. Like with the addition of sound-proofing materials that we used to build a new wall that separates the existing Louis Armstrong Theatre from the new black box theatre. With this technology, simultaneous performances can occur in the two theaters with zero disruptions.

The new addition includes a new costume classroom, workshop, and sophisticated costume storage facility. We also provided a master plan to update the existing facility, including the renovation of the 450-seat Armstrong Theater, lobby, support spaces, and other back stage areas consisting of dressing rooms, green rooms, and prop storage space.