Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Harvard University Breaks Ground on New Performance Venue

  • By Matt Jones
  • 09/18/24

Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., recently announced that construction has begun on a new performing arts center for the campus, according to a news release. The David E. and Stacey L. Goel Center for Creativity & Performance will serve as the new home for the American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.), as well as a wide variety of performances, public gatherings, teaching opportunities, and international research.

The university partnered with Haworth Tompkins as the architect and design lead, ARC/Architectural Resources Cambridge as the architect of record, and Shawmut Design and Construction as the project’s construction manager.

“We are honored to be leading the construction of the David E. and Stacey L. Goel Center for Creativity & Performance,” said Kevin Sullivan, the Shawmut New England region’s executive vice president. “This project exemplifies our deep commitment to the community. By prioritizing environmental sustainability and adaptable design, we are building a vibrant hub for creativity and connection that will serve the local area for years to come. Our shared goal of minimizing embodied and operational carbon, maximizing wellbeing, and enhancing resiliency ensures that this center will not only be a beacon for the arts but also a pioneering global model for sustainable construction.”

The facility will include interconnected and adaptable multi-use spaces to support creativity. It will feature two performance venues: the West Stage for large-scale productions and the East Stage for smaller ones. Other amenities will include naturally lit rehearsal studios and teaching spaces, a large public lobby, an outdoor performance space, dressing rooms and technical shops, administrative offices, and a café, the news release reports.

From a sustainability perspective, the building’s water and electric utilities will be supplied by the university’s new, lower-carbon District Energy Facility. It will also use rooftop solar panels and natural ventilation to reduce energy use, while a green roof and extensive landscaping will help with stormwater attenuation.

Construction has an estimated completion date of 2026, according to the news release.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • DLR Group Announces New Mid-Atlantic Higher Education Leader

    Integrated design firm DLR Group recently announced that it has promoted Principal Shawn Gaither, AIA, LEED AP, to the role of higher education leader in the Mid-Atlantic, according to a news release. Gaither has served with the firm for more than 20 years, most recently as the national higher education business development leader.

  • Bradley Company Highlights Hygiene Tips for Global Handwashing Day

    In honor of Global Handwashing Day on October 15, commercial washrooms and emergency safety solutions provider Bradley Company recently released the results of its 2026 Healthy Handwashing Survey. The findings indicate simple, practical steps that facilities managers can take to encourage good hygiene on campus.

  • Montclair State University Debuts New VR Facility

    Montclair State University in Montclair, N.J., recently announced the completion of a new virtual reality learning facility developed in partnership with Dreamscape Learn, according to a news release. The 2,450-square-foot lab space is inside the College of Communication and Media building and will serve students pursuing careers in digital media, virtual reality, and content creation.

  • Carnegie Mellon University Receives $3B Gift to Launch New Campus

    Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Penn., recently announced that it has received $3 billion—the largest individual gift in higher education history—from Citadel CEO and founder Ken Griffin, according to a news release.