Performing Arts Center - September 2008 Update - University Planning

University Planning

Performing Arts Center - August 19, 2008 Update

Western Illinois University personnel and community members got to look at what the proposed Performing Arts Center would look like and how it would fit into the southwest quadrant of campus during an August 19th presentation of the schematic design.

Charles Smith of O'Donnell, Wicklund, Pigozzi, and Peterson (OWP/P) of Chicago and Phoenix, the lead architectural firm; and Mitch Hirsch of Pelli Clarke Pelli (PCP) of New Haven, CT, the building design firm, were on campus to make the presentations.

On August 19, 2008, Hirsch and members of the PCP design team reviewed several boards with floor-by-floor schematics of the 120,000 sq.ft. center, as well as a 1/16th scale model with approximately 75 university and community people in attendance. Floor plans, cut-out sections of the main auditorium and an orchestra shell, as well as proposed building materials and colors were presented.

The Performing Arts Center will include a 1,400-seat proscenium theatre auditorium with two balconies, a 250-seat thrust stage, and a 150-seat studio theatre. There will also be dance, jazz, orchestra, and vocal performance rehearsal studios; dressing rooms adjacent to the theatres; a scenery/design workshop and a costume shop; administration offices; and a loading dock which will accommodate semis and buses for professional touring companies and orchestras.