For Immediate Release: May 27, 2008
Construction Begins on Performing Arts Center at California StateUniversity, Northridge
Los Angeles, CA - Construction is underway on the California State University (CSU), Northridge Performing Arts Center, highlighted by the groundbreaking celebration held April 30. Designed by HGA Architects and Engineers, the facility has a construction cost of $98 million, and a project cost of $125 million. The 163,000-square-foot Performing Arts Center, prominently located on the campus' south edge, will serve as a cultural hub for the university, the San Fernando Valley and the greater Los Angeles area.
"The Performing Arts Center will contribute to CSU Northridge's growing academic reputation and commitment to the performing arts," said Jamie Milne Rojek, AIA, arts specialist and project manager with HGA. "The center reaches out to the larger community while enhancing student academic and cultural life."
The Performing Arts Center includes a 1,700-seat, multi-purpose concert hall, 250-seat black box theatre, backstage support, classrooms, 150-seat lecture room, rehearsal and events space, and a new broadcast facility for KCSN public radio. The center will host a range of performances, from orchestra to opera, theater and Broadway shows, dance, film, lectures, and student productions.
The design features a dramatic glass lobby wall that visually opens the interior to the campus. Stone, tile and glass embrace the lobby as a sweeping staircase stretches upward three levels to the upper balcony and a rooftop terrace. Further inside, the technically superior performance hall incorporates flexible acoustics, audio and lighting to accommodate various performances. Sinuous wood ribbons radiate from the stage, wrapping the balconies and walls in warm hues. Lighting and speakers discreetly slip behind the ribbons as stainless steel mesh panels along the back shimmer in the pre-show light while patrons take their seats.
The facility projects a public face in all direction, with no official "back side." Loading docks and service functions hide behind moveable screen walls that complement the architecture. Construction is scheduled to complete in 2010.
HGA's architectural design team includes Gary Reetz, Jamie Milne Rojek, Kara Hill, Bob Lundgren and Rebecca Krull. HGA's engineering team includes Paul Asp, structural; Ed Clements, mechanical; Ben Gutierrez, electrical; and Kenny Horns, civil. Other team members include Auerbach Pollock Friedlander, San Francisco, performing arts/media facilities planners; McKay Conant Hoover, Inc., Westlake Village, Calif. and Phoenix, acoustic and media systems consultants; and Pamela Burton %26 Company, Santa Monica, Calif., landscape architecture. Construction administration will be performed by the HGA Minneapolis Arts, Community and Education Studio with support from HGA Los Angeles.
In addition to the Performing Arts Center at CSU Northridge, HGA is designing the Music Building at Texas A%26M University-Commerce, scheduled for a mid-2010 completion.
Other nationally recognized performing arts facilities by HGA include Yue-Kong Pao Hall for Visual and Performing Arts at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind.; the Benedicta Arts Center Expansion at the College of St. Benedict, St. Joseph, Minn.; and the Art, Theater and Dance Complex at Columbus State University, Columbus, Ga.
:: View California State University-Northridge Performing Arts Center
HGA Contact: Julie Luers (612) 758-4000 e-mail JLuers@hga.com
Media Contact: Alyson Pitarre, The Hoyt Organization (310) 373-0103 e-mail apitarre@hoyt.com