SKIP MAIN LINKS TURN OFF AUTO HIDE UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA, RENO UNIVERSITY ARTS BUILDING Varied Arts Spaces Support a Vibrant Arts Community View Project in 3D View Gallery PROJECT LOCATION Reno, NV PROGRAM Recital hall, recording studios, art museum, and more SERVICES Architecture, Interior Design, Theatrical Design, ITDG, Audiovisual, Acoustics AWARDS AIA Nevada, 2019 Merit Award The University of Nevada, Reno believes an exceptional arts program provides students with an inspirational facility. This new addition complements the existing Church Fine Arts Complex, which was designed in 1962 by renowned Modernist architect Richard Neutra. Engaging the topography of the site, the design forms an active outdoor plaza that links to campus pedestrian walkways and preserves a large grass hill. Show More + 1 2 3 4 Tour the Building Our design utilizes a multi-tiered lobby to connect the plaza, street, and bridge levels. Explore 01 Lobby 02 Recital Hall 03 Rehearsal 04 Bridge The new arts building has been the center of every conversation on campus! Everyone is raving about it. It is stunning both functionally and esthetically. It features first-tier acoustical properties in the recital hall and other music spaces. And the art museum is a first-rate space, especially in terms of its layout, climate control, visible storage, and security." Larry Engstrom Professor and Associate Chair, Dept. of Music, University of Nevada, Reno Design's Impact A profound impact on students at the University of Nevada, Reno. Watch the design story Exceptional Program The University Arts Building successfully tackles many complex issues and houses a range of arts programs, including a recital hall, recording studio, electro acoustic laboratory, rehearsal and practice rooms, art museum, and fabrication lab. 01 Topography 02 Spatial Connection 03 Enhanced Acoustics 04 Advanced Technology 05 Museum Skip 01 Topography Engaging the Site The outdoor plaza links to campus pedestrian walkways and preserves a large grass hill. A raised walkway connects the original Church Fine Arts building with the new facility, bridging the University’s legacy with its newest chapter of expanded visual and performing arts programs. The new addition efficiently deals with circulation, loading, access, and building structure. It engages the topography of the site in a way that creates an active outdoor area. 02 Spatial Connection Multitiered Lobby Connects Three Levels Upon entering the University Arts Building, visitors are greeted by a multitiered lobby, connecting to the plaza, street, and bridge levels, and serving as a hub and showcase for performance, display, and learning. Natural daylight and expansive windows provides visual and physical connection. The Fabrication Lab in bottom right, exposes the making from within and encourages collaboration with other departments. 03 Enhanced Acoustics Diffusive Wood Paneling Enhances Acoustics The hall’s narrow bowl shape creates reverberation and the effect of being enveloped by sound. Lower wooden walls in the space are highly diffusive, broadcasting sound in many directions; upper side walls conceal variable acoustic drapery and acoustic diffusive panels. The recital hall’s wraparound balcony affords audiences a unique perspective and can also provide students closer views of musician hand positions and conductor gestures. To accommodate a variety of performance needs, all performance and rehearsal rooms can be tuned using adjustable acoustic drapery panels. 04 Advanced Technology Embedded for Acoustics The electroacoustic composition lab, a first-of-its-kind in Nevada, is highly flexible, with embedded technology and infrastructure that allow for a wide array of digital music composition, playback, and enhanced cross-discipline collaboration between musicians and students in video production, visual arts, and engineering. The window into the corridor gives students a chance to see the process live without being in the room, furthering the university’s principle of exposing the arts to a larger audience. Electro acoustic lab and recording studio for students. Fabrication Lab – Designed as a utilitarian workshop, the lab offers a working area and display area, bound by glass and jutting into the plaza level lobby. 05 Museum Two Stories Showcase Nevada Art The Lilley Museum of Art features atmospheric and security protocols necessary to house and display oversized objects, antique and climate-sensitive artworks, and items of significant value, improving the university’s ability to borrow artwork from collectors and museums and to show more works from its permanent collection. The museum's north-facing position allows abundant daylight to enter the upper level and creates a front porch effect at the lower level. At night, the window creates a beacon of light, illuminating the art objects and giving the effect that the building is glowing with artwork. An extension of the lobby, the museum allows patrons to connect with the art while attending a music performance. A Vibrant Arts Community Watch the design story Design Awards 2019 Merit Award AIA Cleveland Read more Merit Award, 2019 AIA Nevada Read Story Merit Award, 2019 AIA Ohio Read Story Load More Explore More Projects MGM MANDALAY BAY SOLAR SD DESIGN Alluring Solar Skyline Our design for the rooftop solar array at the Mandalay Bay Resort Conference and Convention Center is visible proof of MGM's commitment to sustainability. POINT PARK UNIVERSITY PITTSBURGH PLAYHOUSE State-of-the-Art Meets Historic Urban Context The Pittsburgh Playhouse realizes Point Park University’s goal of uniting its performing arts complex and academic village within a single downtown campus. BACK TO TOP Terms of Use Privacy Policy SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER © 2021 DLR Group