McGrath Family Performing Arts Center

The design creates opportunities for cultural innovation on campus by creating unexpected moments of connection. The exterior stage, with its relationship to the new quad, is a platform for new modes of expression that makes the fine arts accessible to all students. In its first three months of operation, the project has proven to be a cultural asset, providing the student body with new experiences and collaborations that were not previously possible. These collaborations have impacted the curriculum beyond the Fine Arts department and student growth beyond academics.

Proposing a 72’ high stage house and fly tower in a residential neighborhood required a variance from the local jurisdiction, a hurdle that was only achievable through listening, open communication with neighbors, and issuing direct responses to concerns. Our team hosted a pre-pandemic, in-person open house to share the project during Schematic Design whose goal was to solicit valuable feedback toward approval of the variance. Over fifty community members attended, identifying pressure points related to overshadowing, light pollution, and traffic. A follow-up (virtual) open house was hosted at the start of Design Development to share design modifications and respond to points of concern.