Saint Olaf College, Dittmann Center for Art and Dance
Northfield, MinnesotaThis renovation of the former St. Olaf Student Center created a new home for the art and dance departments.
This project is the first phase of the Fine Arts Master Plan HGA completed for St. Olaf that will ultimately include music, theater, and a concert hall. The renovation completed in 2001 includes three large dance studios, a lecture hall, the St. Olaf Art Museum, and a full range of hands-on fine arts studios including: painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, sculpture, metals, woodworking, ceramics, and computer design.
The original building was totally demolished down to the structure, and a new exterior glass and metal skin provided. An addition for the foundry and metals shop was also built. The window pattern was designed to represent the artistic activities going on in the building as well as provide natural light and delightful views. Full architectural and engineering services were provided by HGA, with special attention given to energy efficiency, and both physical and environmental safety.
The goal was to renovate the Dittmann Center to be as new as 1960 and still be respectful of the other campus buildings by being: vigorous, sturdy, and yet elegant; dignified and yet fresh; straightforward and simple yet exciting; generous and of quality, but without luxury; and be human in scale but not cute or pretty.
Forty years later the college student center was moved to a new home. This commission renovates this 1960 student center structure to house spaces for Studio Arts and Dance programs. The existing structure contained three levels of student union programs on a hillside site with panoramic views of the campus and countryside. Its facade was a steel and glass window wall with vertical stone pillars on a twenty-five foot rhythm.
The building interior was demolished and the deteriorated window wall removed leaving a twenty five foot square concrete pan and column structural frame. New systems were installed to support the arts functions.
The new program is organized on these levels with the light industrial arts of ceramics wood and metal shop, and foundry on the lowest level associated with service court and outdoor kiln and assembly space.
The middle level allows through campus circulation from adjacent buildings and the main entry to the arts building. The college gallery and the two-story student gallery flank this pathway. Print making, drawing and painting studios align along the north facade taking advantage of an existing outdoor terrace, even north light and hilltop vistas.
The third level steel spanning the roof was raised four feet from its original elevation to allow appropriate height in the three main dance studios and terraced lecture hall.
A new facade system of modular aluminum and glass paneled shields was developed allowing the fenestration to respond and react to the peculiar functions of the arts program. Glass openings move between four possible heights on each level exhibiting the kinetic activities of the studios. The shields are set in front of a copper shingled backdrop facade spanning between existing stone piers and rising to cover the new roof elevation.
related quote - AIA Minnesota Honor Awards Jury
The careful renovation and reclamation of a 1950s building was successfully completed with a "subtle design that adds a newness to improve the building without overpowering it."