The design incorporates a completely contemporary interior within a historic exterior shell. The 250-seat recital hall is constructed within the high volume of the original gymnasium. It is finely tuned for musical performances and spoken word. The design retains the building’s original structure and monumentally scaled windows, and inserts an acoustic stage shell and tiered seating within the space. Former classrooms have been reconfigured to provide offices, seminar rooms, lounges, and clinical and instructional space for administrative departments. The iconic entrance tower now provides a triple-height space for receptions, small performances, and student admissions orientation. Furthermore, 144 geothermal wells and a rooftop rainwater harvesting system make this a sustainability model for adaptive reuse projects.

This project was completed by Kliment Halsband Architects prior to becoming a Perkins Eastman Studio.