The Marshall Family Performing Arts Center Weiss/Manfredi is the focus of the performing arts at the Greenhill School. The design establishes a dialogue between building and campus: the building’s configuration creates a sequence of spaces that shape an outdoor courtyard and frame views out to the existing campus. The courtyard is animated by a double-height lobby. Designed to be an ascending gallery of collaborative spaces, the lobby connects all the performance venues and creates a destination for informal performances and spontaneous interactions.
© Albert Večerka/Esto
Weiss/Manfredi: The performance spaces occupy two levels of the building and include a 600-seat proscenium theater, a state-of-the-art studio theater, a dance rehearsal and choral space, a film/video lab, and extensive theater support space. The multi-purpose proscenium theater includes a fly loft, the studio theater seats 150, the dance and choral rehearsal studio seats 80, and the film and video production lab extend the performing arts into new digital territories. Learning environments include theater spaces as well as in classrooms, dressing rooms, a costume shop, and a scene shop.
© Albert Večerka/Esto
The dramatic profile of the building emerges from the topography of the site and continuously ascends to reach the fly tower for the theater. The exterior brick by Weiss/Manfredi collaborates chromatically with the materials of the campus. Illuminated soffits and overhangs provide shade and support outdoor teaching. Together these elements shape and give measure to the Performing Arts Center’s commitment to advance teaching, performance, and production across the boundaries of individual performing arts disciplines.
Project info:
Architects: Weiss/Manfredi
Country: United States, Addison
Area: 65000 ft²
Year: 2016
Photographs: Albert Večerka/Esto
Manufacturers: Belden, Bentley, Berridge, Bomanite, ETC, Featherlite, Series Seating, Texas Scenic, Trane, Viracon, W&W/AFCO STEEL, Wenger Corporation, YKK ap America
Lighting Designer: Tillotson Design Associates
Contractor: Andres Construction Services
Structural Engineer: Magnusson Klemencic Associates, Fisher Dachs Associates, Jaffe Holden Acoustics
MEP: Page
Client: Client Greenhill School
Team: Michael A. Manfredi, Marion Weiss, Armando Petruccelli, Justin Kwok, Andrew Ruggles, Paúl Duston-Muñoz
Project Team: Will Butler, Joe Cruz, Annelie Persson Call
Associate Architect: Milton Powell, Richard C. Robinson, Page
Code Consultant: Code Consultants Inc
Food Service Consultant: James N. Davella Consulting
Telecommunications Consultant: Datacom Design Group
Fire Protection: Page
Civil Engineer: Pacheco Koch
Landscape: Pacheco Koch
Hadeer Shahin is the Built Projects Editor at Arch2O, where she curates innovative architectural works from around the globe. With a background in architecture from Alexandria University and hands-on experience in design and digital content, she bridges the gap between technical precision and editorial vision. Hadeer’s keen eye for spatial storytelling and her passion for contemporary design trends make her a vital contributor to Arch2O’s mission of highlighting excellence in the built environment.