University’s board of visitors approved the plans, which will pave the way for construction of the facility that will help redefine downtown Blacksburg and shape the performing and visual arts environment throughout the region.
The Center for the Arts complex will include both new and renovated facilities located at the intersection of North Main Street and Alumni Mall. It will feature a 1,300-seat performance hall, multiple visual arts galleries and the new Center for Creative Technologies in the Arts. The performance hall will be designed to be flexible in order to be used as a venue for theater, music, and dance performances.
The visual arts galleries will be incorporated with display space for traditional visual art as well as interactive and digital forms and will exhibit both temporarily donated and university-owned artwork. The space will also be suitable for interactive and distance-learning activities and will further facilitate collaborations with the recently opened Taubman Museum of Art in Roanoke, Virginia, to include exhibitions and educational outreach opportunities.
The Center for Creative Technologies in the Arts will be housed in new space as well as renovated space in Schultz Hall. The center, a technological incubator, laboratory and studio setting are expected to enhance public education at the primary, secondary, undergraduate and graduate education levels. The center will include the Collaborative Performance Lab that will provide a venue for exploration of the visual and performance arts using the latest interactive technology.
Construction of the facility will begin by late 2010, and is scheduled to be completed by mid-2013. Funding for the project includes $33.2 million from Virginia Tech, $27.8 million from the state of Virginia, and $28 million from private donations.
The facility’s design was led by Norwegian architectural firm Snohetta, which has an office in New York.
Joining Snohetta on the project are STV Architects, with offices; Holder Construction Co; Arup and Theatre Projects Consultants.
