Add as a preferred source on Google

Harvard University Breaks Ground on New Performance Center

  • By Matt Jones
  • 07/11/24

Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., recently broke ground on a new performance center that will play home to the American Repertory Theater, according to a news release. The university is partnering with architect and design lead Haworth Tompkins, architect of record ARC/Architectural Resources Cambridge, and construction manager Shawmut Design and Construction for the David E. and Stacy L. Goel Center for Creativity & Performance. Construction is tentatively scheduled for completion in 2026.

“We are honored to be leading the construction of the David E. and Stacey L. Goel Center for Creativity & Performance,” said executive vice president of Shawmut Design and Construction’s New England region Kevin Sullivan. “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 space features two flexible performance spaces: the West Stage for large-scale productions, and the East Stage as a more intimate venue. It will also include interconnected and adaptable multi-purpose spaces to support both future-readiness and creative collaboration. Other amenities include rehearsal studios and teaching spaces, a public lobby, and an outdoor performance venue, as well as dressing rooms, administrative space, technical shops, and a café.

From the sustainability angle, the building was designed to meet the Living Building Challenge core accreditation from the International Living Future Institute, the news release reports. Construction materials include laminate mass timber, reclaimed brick, and cedar cladding to minimize embodied and operational carbon. Rooftop solar panels will gather solar energy, while a green roof and thorough plantings will assist with stormwater attenuation, the news release reports.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • 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.

  • Texas State University Completes Stadium Renovations

    Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, recently announced that it has completed a series of additions and renovations to its football stadium, according to a news release. Formerly known as the Bobcat Stadium End Zone Complex, the Johnny and Nathali Weisman Football Performance Center is an 85,000-square-foot expansion featuring hospitality spaces, banquet spaces, exterior concourses, and upgrades to the field house.

  • South Texas K–12 District Debuts Region’s First Electric Bus Fleet

    The Valley View Independent School District in Pharr, Texas, recently announced a partnership with Highland Electric Fleets to launch the district’s—and the region’s—first fleet of all-electric school buses, according to a news release.

  • California K–12 District Opens New Athletic Complex, Gym

    The San Mateo Union High School District (SMUHSD) in San Mateo, Calif., recently announced the completion of two new athletics facilities: a new gymnasium at Burlingame High School, and a new athletic training complex at San Mateo High School, according to a news release.

Digital Edition