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

  • Upcoming University of Alabama Performing Arts Center Hits Construction Milestone

    The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala., recently celebrated the topping out of its new Smith Family Center for Performing Arts, according to a news release. The university is partnering with HPM for program and project management on the facility, which broke ground in 2023 and is scheduled for completion in November 2026.

  • UNL Kiewit Hall

    Designing for Engineering Excellence: Integrating Sustainability and Wellness at UNLs Kiewit Hall

    Kiewit Hall at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln exemplifies how academic institutions can integrate sustainability and wellness into modern learning environments. With an integrated and collaborative team approach, Kiewit Hall addresses enhanced learning and creativity, physical health, and mental wellness, and fosters a sense of community through innovative design, operations, and policy solutions.

  • classroom with crystal ball on top of a desk

    Call for Opinions: Spaces4Learning 2026 Predictions for Educational Facilities

    As 2025 winds to a close, the Spaces4Learning staff is asking its readers—school administrators, architects, engineers, facilities managers, builders, superintendents, designers, vendors, and more—to send us their predictions for educational facilities in 2026.

  • LSU Breaks Ground on $200M Residential Project

    Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La., recently broke ground on a new residential complex, according to university news. The South Quad residential project will consist of two buildings and add a total of 1,266 beds for freshmen students. The development comes with a price tag of $200 million, and it’s scheduled to open to students in fall 2027.

Digital Edition