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190205 CG HGA Macalester Phase3 014v2 lr

Macalester College, Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center Theatre and Dance Building Expansion

St. Paul, MN

The third phase of the Art Center’s renovation focused on the Theatre Building. It features an innovative 200-seat flexible performance space, a small black box, two large dance studios with sprung floors, a state of the art design lab, scene shop, and costume shop. 

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The flexibility of the larger space influences the relationship between the audience and performers. Room configurations are dictated by the needs of the performance piece and vary from a traditional wing and border end stage to a unique two level structures. The combination of hinged seating galleries, the tension wire grid, the rigging and motorised winch system allow for multiple seating and stage configurations with minimal effort. State of the art rigging, lighting, and platform systems, as well as full trap area provide unique staging opportunities for a theatre and department of this size.

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The architectural lighting included the theatre spaces, classrooms, offices, corridors, adjacent parking lots and pathways, and the exterior feature wall. Schuler Shook also specified the lighting control system for the public spaces, classrooms, and offices.

Project Details

Architect

  • HGA

Acoustician

  • Threshold Acoustics

Recognition

  • USITT Merit Award, 2021

  • SCUP Honorable Mention Award for Excellence in Architecture, Building Additions, Renovations, or Adaptive Reuse, 2020

  • AIA Minnesota Honor Award for Architectural Excellence, 2019

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