Our team was retained by the Out-of-Door Academy to design a Fine Arts Center on a small plot of land adjacent to the existing gymnasium. The challenge was to design a "signature" building with a small footprint to fit on the designated parcel that not only met all programmatic requirements, but provided for future expansion. In addition, the building was to be constructed on a fully occupied campus with a limited construction staging area.
Through efficient planning, we designed the 21,000 square foot, two-story Fine Arts Center in strict accordance with the program, including a large expansion space on the second floor. In addition, the building seamlessly ties into the existing covered walkway of the adjacent gymnasium. The building was constructed with no breach in safety for the students and minimum inconvenience. Utilizing matching materials, the signature building was created with unique shapes and a dramatic stair tower, to great reception from the Headmaster, Board of Trustees, staff, and students.
The Fine Arts Center's premier space is a state-of-the-art black box theater. The theater, which incorporates the latest in sound and light systems, controls, ceiling walking grid, catwalks, etc., is the premier black box theater in the United States. The Fine Arts Center also features a scene shop, art classrooms, a ceramics classroom, graphics classroom, television production facilities, a band room, a choral room, and a large, central angular art gallery that connects to a two-story lobby.
