Page 33 - spaces4learning, July/August 2020

State of the Art
In the renovation, the construction team from W.E. Floyd completely revamped the theater. They created a new central stage that includes updated theatrical lighting, sound, and a motorized orchestra pit that can be raised up to the stage level.
They also built a smaller studio theater, dressing rooms and set-building support spaces that add capacity to the perform- ing arts program. There are also brightly lit dressing rooms and dedicated space for hair and makeup for the cast. The
new state-of-the-art resources add a dimension to the theatre program that few other schools can match.
“I will teach in the studio theatre,” said Tom Kane, Director of the Theater Program. “It will also provide an alternate rehears- al space while the technical crew works on the main stage sets.
The renovated building also features gallery space and pin- up areas as new arenas to celebrate and encourage the artistic pursuits of students. There is also a new “mindfulness” space that will provide “emotional and intellectual space to reflect and recharge,” according to the architect. Workers also improved a courtyard to provide accessible entry to adjacent buildings and includes a terrace that serves as an exterior performance venue.
Middlesex students will find dedicated spaces for ceram- ics, digital photography and digital media, along with two studios for drawing and painting. The work will be featured in the Ishibashi Gallery, which is named after an alumnus of the school. “You really need a space that artists are drawn to exhibit their work, where it is protected and can be showcased in a way that is exciting,” said Stacey McCarthy, head of the Visual Arts Department.
On the upper floor of the visual arts center are two art history rooms and a multipurpose space that the school claims is the “Best Room on Campus,” according to the Middlesex website. It offers views of the campus circle, chapel and the ad- jacent studio overlooks Bateman’s Pond – and the largemouth bass that inhabit it.
Keeping the Space Safe
Six double-leaf acoustical smoke vents manufactured by The BILCO Compa-
ny were installed on the roof of the new theater. Automatic smoke vents protect property and aid firefighters in bringing a fire under control by removing smoke, heat and gases from a burning building. This ensures better visibility, evacuation time, and protection against fire spread, as well
as reduced risk of smoke inhalation and structural damage. They are activated upon the melting of a fusible link, and are ideally suited for large expanses of unobstructed space such as factories, warehouses, auditori- ums and retail facilities.
The smoke vents used on this project were equipped with electric motor operators that allow them to be opened and closed
remotely for ventilation. BILCO’s acoustical vents provide industry-high STC and OITC sound ratings to guard against outside noise intrusion so that the inside performance won’t be disturbed.
“The features that were included in the smoke vents were geared to student safety,” Oishi said. “That was of paramount importance. There were also space considerations, and the au- tomated aspect was important due to the fact that we wanted very few things interfering with the rigging sets.”
Bringing the School Together
The project required approximately 18 months to complete, and students and faculty reacted excitedly upon completion. “Construction’s exciting, but it can be a slight burden,” McKe- own said. “Their reactions when they saw it finally completed were pretty cool. For a long time, it was just something that was going on behind a fence. They were shocked at how amaz- ing the space was.”
While the theater and arts center are critical to the school academically, they are just as essential as the singular place where the entire campus can congregate. Like many small schools, there is a togetherness at Middlesex that makes it special. Certainly, there is a diversity of thought, interests
and ideas. The new building provides the necessary space to unite everyone, from the first-year freshmen on up through the school’s brain trust.
“It’s an awesome space,” McKeown said. “The entire com- munity gathers there on a weekly basis, and it’s very comfort- able. It provides a space where our community can gather, and that’s something that is very important to our school.”
Thomas Renner writes on building, construction, engineering and other topics for trade publications in the United States and Canada.
Photo by Sarah Hamlin/Everchangingphoto.
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