Clarke+Ervin Center for Innovation and Performing Arts | Cape Henry Collegiate
Virginia Beach, Virginia
This 44,500-SF building brings arts and science under one roof and includes a 450-seat theater with orchestra, parterre, balcony, and box seating; state-of-the art multi-disciplinary fabrication lab and maker space; over 10,500-SF of academic space; flexible, open classrooms promoting cross-disciplinary collaboration; and seamless connections to existing campus buildings.
A performing arts building invites the community to the school, necessitating a grand, obvious entrance. A glowing, two-story glass cube on the northwest corner welcomes visitors. The rest of the north facade forms the back-of-house theater spaces. Large, translucent glass panels allow light, but not a view, into a support corridor and are illuminated from within by color-changing lights.
The east corner of the building borrows a grid of silver metal panel from the Sparks Science and Technology Building across campus but uses them in a different way. A subset of panels within the grid are folded diagonally then pulled forward at one corner to create an angular, toothed wall. The gloss of the panels reflects the surroundings in new ways. Added depth casts shadows and provides novel substance with little space and within a strict budget.
The theater contains 450 seats, box-seating, full proscenium stage with motorized fly system, galleries and catwalks, and ample support spaces including dressing rooms, storage, and state-of-the art control booth.
The interior classroom and laboratory spaces have floor-to-almost-ceiling glass to allow for the creativity within to be viewed from both the hallway and from one class to another. Visual connectivity was provided wherever possible. What might happen if the robotics students can see ballet dancers in action or if the fabrication lab has a view into the orchestra. Students learn from the juxtaposition. Seeing other avenues of study awakens curiosity, creativity, and, ideally, cross-discipline collaboration.