The
new Pinkerton Academy Arts and Humanities Center is organized around
the requirements of the four departments it houses: Drama, Music,
Art, and English. At its core is the 892 seat auditorium, with its
3,300 S.F. stage, surrounded by support spaces such as set and costume
shops, storage, dressing rooms, green room, black box theatre, ticket
office and public toilets. The auditorium is outfitted with a full
fly loft, orchestra pit filler, stage sound reflector shell, and
professional sound and light systems.
The
Music Department is comprised of band and chorus ensemble rooms,
with accompanying practice rooms, offices, and storage spaces. There
is a state of the art MIDI computer-based music classroom, and a
tunnel connecting the band room to the orchestra pit for hidden
performer entrances. The entire music department is wired to the
auditorium by closed circuit TV. The band and chorus ensemble rooms
are isolated acoustically from each other, the auditorium, and the
rest of the building to optimize sound control.
The
Art Department is located on the second floor behind the stage,
which allows high classrooms, skylights and a minimum of student
traffic through the area. Each of the five studios has a particular
function, including basic art, painting, sculpture, photography,
commercial art and ceramics. The ceramics studio is on the first
floor and features a stone-lined outdoor work area.
The
English Department is housed in a 3-story classroom wing closest
to the rest of campus - of paramount importance when 3,100 students
must change classes on a large campus in six minutes. All classrooms
have indirect lighting, large operable windows, and extensive data
wiring.
The
6,000 S.F. auditorium lobby was requested by the board of trustees
as a space that would be inspiring as an entrance to the theater
and also would serve as an art display space for student and visiting
artist work. With its warm
brick walls, wood ceiling, and colorfully patterned terrazzo tile
floor, the lobby serves its users well. To complete the space, our
office coordinated the installation of the carpet wall hangings,
artwork, plants, and furniture, which were included in the budget.
Since
the site was tight on space and sloped 30' across its length, the
building steps 6' at two locations, and several granite retaining
walls were used, including one used to create an outdoor eating
space for the senior cafeteria. Included in the project is the redesign
of a student pedestrian plaza between the Ek Science Building and
the Arts Center, the addition of about 175 parking spaces, and the
construction of 8 tennis courts.
The
building is constructed of concrete block bearing walls with a brick
veneer accented by a precast concrete wall base, banding, and column
surrounds. The roof is similarly maintenance free with a TPO heat
welded membrane at flat areas and standing seam metal roofing at
pitched locations. All windows and storefront are aluminum with
a baked on Kynar finish and low-E glazing.
The
building was designed to be sympathetic to the original 1880's Pinkerton
Building through its palette of materials, colors, and textures,
yet decidedly individual in terms of its massing and detailing.
In all respects, the Arts and Humanities Center serves the town,
school, and students very well, and is a much appreciated addition
to the growing campus. |