Add as a preferred source on Google

Belmont Abbey College Selects Architect for New Performing Arts Center

  • By Matt Jones
  • 11/21/24

Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, N.C., recently announced the selection of Little Diversified Architectural Consulting (Little) to serve as the project architect for its new Visual and Performing Arts Center, according to a news release. The 1,000-seat theater will serve the college and local community as a home for theater, visual arts, performing arts, art exhibitions, and other cultural and educational events.

“We look forward to partnering with Belmont Abbey College and the surrounding region to bring their vision to reality,” said Tom Balke, AIA, Little’s Community Studio Principal. “Creating a performance and cultural space that provides unique experiences while reflecting this community’s aspirations is an important driver of the design outcomes.”

The project also involves renovating the Haid Theatre on the Bellmont Abbey College campus. Community feedback determined that the 200-seat theater can’t meet the college’s current needs, but that it is of enough historical importance to preserve alongside the new space, the news release reports.

"Belmont Abbey is to be commended for putting together an advisory group to provide input into planning for this project,” said Reeves McGlohon, member of the advisory committee and retired superintendent of Gaston County Schools. “They have supported the advisory group and have listened to what we have had to say. There is no doubt in my mind that the work of the advisory group in conjunction with the Abbey will lead to a final product that will meet the needs of the college and the community at large.”

The North Carolina General Assembly approved $9 million in funding for the project in October 2023.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Creating Long-Term Sustainability on College Campuses Through Fair Student Housing

    The quality of student housing can have a significant impact on an individual’s college experience. Today’s higher education institutions face mounting challenges, including declining enrollment, low retention rates between the first and second years, and a rise in student mental health concerns. Thoughtfully designed living spaces can help address these issues by creating environments that promote both academic focus and personal well-being.

  • Extron, CENTEGIX Partner for Comprehensive School Security Solution

    Professional audiovisual solutions provider Extron recently announced a partnership with CENTEGIX, which provides rapid incident response technology, to integrate two of their top products in the name of school safety.

  • Texas K–12 District to Build New Elementary, High Schools

    The High Island Independent School District on the Bolivar Peninsula in Southeast Texas recently announced that construction on a new elementary school and a new high school will begin in January 2026, according to local news. Funding will come from a $27.9-million bond passed in May 2025.

  • Texas District Finishes Construction on New Middle School, Admin Building

    The Westwood Independent School District recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Westwood Middle School and Administration Building in Palestine, Texas, according to a news release. The campus covers 106,000 square feet and has the capacity for 650 students in grades 6–8, and it will also play home to the district’s staff and administration.

Digital Edition