Colburn School for the Performing Arts & Music Conservatory 3
Colburn School for the Performing Arts & Music Conservatory 7
Colburn School for the Performing Arts & Music Conservatory 6
Colburn School for the Performing Arts & Music Conservatory 5
Colburn School for the Performing Arts & Music Conservatory 4
Colburn School for the Performing Arts & Music Conservatory 1
Colburn School for the Performing Arts & Music Conservatory 2
Colburn School for the Performing Arts & Music Conservatory

Colburn School for the Performing Arts & Music Conservatory

Los Angeles, CA

A modern college conservatory that creates a campus-like environment for both students and audience members.

Richard Colburn, namesake of the Colburn School, facilitated the relocation of the school’s music and dance facilities from warehouse-like facilities on the University of Southern California campus to downtown Los Angeles, and in so doing created a vibrant, new, community-based school for the performing arts. At the time, downtown’s Grand Avenue was only just emerging as a cultural destination, with the Colburn School soon becoming one of its major anchors. The building’s design, therefore, had to address the contextual conditions of the day yet anticipate a burgeoning future. After several years of operations, the school returned to us to design facilities that would allow it to expand to become a college conservatory that provides student housing, a new 250-seat recital hall, a music library, educational spaces, and a variety of practice and rehearsal rooms. The two buildings are linked by an active courtyard and dining commons, creating a campus-like environment for both students and audience members.

This project was designed by Pfeiffer prior to joining Perkins Eastman.

Project Facts

  • Client:

  • Colburn School for the Performing Arts
  • Size :

  • 10,000 sf
  • Markets:

  • College + University, Arts + Culture
  • Region:

  • United States
  • Studios:

  • Los Angeles

    Awards

  • 2008 Downtown Breakfast Club Rose & Lemon Awards, Special Recognition Award
  • 2008 Downtown News, Downtowners of Distinction Award
  • 2000 United States Institute for Theatre Technology, Architecture Honor Award