Eastern Connecticut State University
Fine Arts Instructional Center
Project
Fine Arts Instructional Center
Client
Eastern Connecticut State University
Location
Willimantic, CT
Completion
2016
Size
132,000 GSF
Certification
LEED Silver Certified
Category
The Arts, Campus Innovations
Partner Firm
SLAM Collaborative (AOR)
The Fine Arts Instructional Center for Eastern Connecticut State University serves as the new home for the visual and performing arts departments. The facility includes a 400-seat multipurpose Concert Hall, a 250-seat Proscenium Theater, and a 125-seat Studio Theater. With this new building, the Music, Theater, and Visual Arts Departments move onto main campus in a location directly across from the student center. The building was designed to capitalize on this prominent site.
ARTS AS THE FRONT FOOR OF THE UNIVERSITY
FRONT DOOR FACING HIGH STREET:
The glassy lobby with two main venues faces toward the city and presents a sense of openness and welcome to the community. Equally important, venues and teaching spaces are visible from outside the building.
NEW QUADRANGLE FACING CAMPUS:
The building engages the campus with a single-loaded west lobby overlooking the campus and a grand staircase leading to the student center. A black box theater, seminar, art gallery and theater classroom all face onto this west lobby with storefronts and barn doors.
SPACES IN USE
Art Studio
Makerspace
Pottery Studio
Awards + Recognition
2017 National AIA-CAE/SCUP Excellence in Architecture for a New Building Honor Award
Project Consultants
Structural Engineer | LeMessurier Consultants, Inc.
Mechanical / Electrical Engineer | AltieriSeborWieber LLC
Civil Engineer | Purcell Associates
Lighting Consultant | Visual Terrain, Inc.
Theater Consultant | Theatre Projects Consultants, Inc.
Acoustical Engineer | Kirkegaard Associates
AV Consultant | Kirkegaard Associates
Photographer | Robert Benson