Creative Arts Center at Wright State University

2010

​

This project features designs for the remodel of Wright State University's Creative Arts Center. The current CAC utilizes a building that has been added on to multiple times with little effort at cohesion. The university sought us out to provide ideas for renovation plans that could tie the current disjointed building together while providing new spaces for the growing program. The administration desired a building that not only worked well, but would become a focal point of the campus. They asked for a building that both reflected the nature of the arts that are taught, practiced and performed inside the Center and acted as promotional tool for recruitment into the program.

 

The resulting design relocates each of the three major disciplines in the building in order to better serve each. The disjointed additions (with floor to floor measurements that ranged from 10' to 14') were reconfigured to better connect the entire building. The finished plans offer a cohesive building that allows for interaction between the disciplines while still affording each its own autonomous zone.

 

The new building elements and rerouted circulation paths reflect the manic nature of artists, celebrating the numerous additions and building quirks rather than disguising them. This results in a finished project that meets the programmatic requirements while creating an energetic building that would be appealing to both potential students and donors coming for performances.

 

The existing building has an array of façade materials that do not compliment each other as well as entries that are drab and hard to find. The new design ties materials together and celebrates the entries. All entrances are now emphasized with monumental glazed atriums. An overall cohesion is achieved through limiting the material palette to metal, concrete and glass. These changes serve a dual purpose; not only is monotony is avoided through form, an alternating off axis grid pattern for the metal panels and color variations, but they allow patrons to more easily navigate to their desired portions of the Center.