HGA Architects & Engineers has designed the 163,000 square feet Valley Performing Arts Center as a cultural hub for Cal State Northridge, the San Fernando Valley, and the Los Angeles area. The centre contains a 1,700-seat performance hall, 175-seat black box theatre, backstage support, classrooms, 230-seat lecture room, rehearsal and events space, and broadcast facility for KCSN public radio.
The design of the visually open lobby is distinct with a unique blend of stone, tile and glass elements. A sweeping staircase spans upward three levels leading to the upper balcony and a rooftop terrace.
The $125 million VPAC features two linked buildings, which are wrapped around a central courtyard. It opens toward the school’s other art buildings along CSUN’s east-west axis. The facility is designed to meet LEED-Silver certification.
From the exterior, passersby can catch glimpses of clear views inside, thanks to the main building’s unique cantilevered roof and glass curtain walls. This feature is integrated as a contrast to the generally opaque facades found on the campus. A modest George Rickey kinetic sculpture and a large reflecting pool facing the street enhance the visual appeal of the new centre. The travertine tile and glass design pattern of the façade is replicated in the lobby’s interior.
In an attempt to accommodate the variable acoustical needs without changing the hall’s visual appearance, the building is fitted with multiple techniques. Acoustic excellence has been achieved by incorporating more than 34,000ft stainless steel mesh, which covers the sound-absorptive wool serge fabric on the rear and side walls. Twisting wood ribbons are draped around the three-tiered hall. This enables it to act as complex acoustical systems that hide light poles and speakers underneath.
