UMBC Performing Arts and Humanities Building
About
THIS PROJECT
The UMBC Performing Arts and Humanities Building is a 178,000 SF, state-of-the-art facility built in two phases. The first phase was 92,000 SF and provides space for multiple departments and programs. The majority of this phase included:
- Proscenium theater
- Fly tower
- Black box theater
- Rehearsal studio
- Large and small classrooms
- Teaching labs
- Seminar and meeting rooms
- Faculty offices
PROJECT OVERVIEW
LOCATION:
Catonsville, Maryland
Mid-Atlantic
CLIENT:
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
INDUSTRY:
Performing Arts
PRACTICES:
BIM/VDC
Sustainability
OF PROJECT WASTE WAS RECYCLED
BLACK BOX THEATER CONFIGURATIONS
STAINLESS STEEL METAL PANELS ON THE BUILDING
The second phase provided 86,000 SF of additional space for departments, with most of the phase dedicated to performance and practice spaces for the music and dance programs. Highlights of this phase include:
- Concert hall
- Instrument ensemble area
- Recording studio
- Dance technology studio
- Cantilevered dance classroom/performance space
- Classrooms
- Seminar and meeting rooms
The entire building meets very stringent acoustic requirements and was constructed using three distinct structural systems isolated from one another. Additionally, the project included a significant upgrade to the campus central utility plant, consisting of new chillers, piping, a high-temperature hot water system and design-build optimization of the cooling towers.
This project achieved LEED® Gold certification.
Did you
KNOW?
- The facility includes a 20,000-gallon underground storage tank for use in landscape irrigation.
- The freight elevator is oversized to fit a grand piano.
- There are seven different performance configurations for the black box theater.
- The exterior of the proscenium theatre is a dimpled stainless steel that reacts with the angles of the sun, causing the wall to appear to change color throughout the day.
- Aircraft cable is used to create walkable platforms high above the two performance venues.
- The doors into the scene shop, proscenium theatre stage and the black box are 16 feet high and weigh 3,500 pounds each.
