Skip to main content
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

  • 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.

  • Dallas-Area District Debuts Three New Facilities

    The Duncanville Independent School District in southwest Dallas, Texas, recently held ribbon-cutting ceremonies for three new facilities that resulted from a $170-million bond program passed in 2023, according to a news release.

  • Missouri K–12 District Cuts Ribbons on Two New Middle Schools

    Springfield Public Schools in Springfield, Mo., recently celebrated the completion of two new middle school facilities with ribbon-cutting ceremonies, according to a district news release. The district officially opened the new Pipkin Middle School and Reed Academy on Sept. 3, both of which were funded through the $220-million Proposition S bond program approved by voters in 2023.

  • 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.