Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Allan Hancock College Debuts Completed Fine Arts Complex

  • By Matt Jones
  • 03/08/23

Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria, Calif., recently opened its new Fine Arts Complex to the campus community, according to a news release. The new facility brings together all of the college’s fine arts disciplines—including art, graphics, animation, photography, music, film, dance, and more—underneath a single roof for the first time. The college partnered with architecture firm DLR Group for the project’s design.

The facility measures in at 88,000 square feet and features amenities like a performance space with a capacity of 400; rehearsal space for dance, band, and choruses; ceramics studios, recording studios, painting studios, and graphic design studios; a film classroom and screening room; and labs for photography and digital media. The building also features a two-story central gathering space and an outdoor courtyard for interdisciplinary collaboration.

“The grand opening celebration for the new Fine Arts Building is also a celebration of new opportunities for the arts moving into a single location on campus,” said DLR Group Principal Dennis Bree, AIA, LEED. “Students from all arts disciplines will gather to inspire each other and celebrate creativity with a facility that connects them to daylight, landscape, and modern technology. Our design team is thrilled to open new areas for social gathering, critical discussion, and display that showcase the incredible talent of our students at Allan Hancock College.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Wold Completes Geothermal Projects at Two Minnesota Schools

    Wold Architects & Engineers recently announced that it has completed two geothermal expansion projects for Mounds View Public Schools in Shoreview, Minn., according to a news release. The work at Highview Middle School and Irondale High School serves the district’s long-term goal of reducing energy costs and dependency on non-renewable fuel sources, as well as improving building performance.

  • Designing the Bridge Between Inclusivity and Independence in K–12 Schools

    Fostering independence is fundamental to learning and development for K–12 students. It offers many proven benefits, such as enhanced confidence, problem-solving, decision-making, and social skills. However, this foundational objective loses its impact if it’s not accessible and adaptable to all students. Inclusivity plays a critical role in cultivating independence and healthy autonomy for students, fostering positive student learning outcomes by uniting pedagogy with the physical learning environment.

  • University of Rochester to Break Ground on New Student Life Center

    The University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y., recently began construction on a new Student Life building, according to a news release. The first floor will contain campus-wide gathering, program, and rehearsal space; the second floor will play home to the Greenbaum Center for Jewish Life.

  • Washington State District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    Cheney School District No. 360 in Spokane County, Wash., recently announced that construction has begun on a new elementary school, according to local news. The district held a groundbreaking ceremony on May 18 in Airway Heights for the yet-to-be-named school, which is scheduled to open in fall 2027.