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Purdy Crawford Centre for the Arts, Mount Allison University

Project Details

Purdy Crawford Centre for the Arts is the home for Mount Allison University’s fine and performing arts programs. Designed as a set of three interconnected volumes, the dynamic interior space encourages the interchange of ideas. Recognizing that learning happens outside of the classroom, the variety of formal and informal spaces encourages connection through diverse learning experiences.

Positioned at the top of a gentle landscaped slope facing Main Street, the Centre acts as a gateway to the campus, giving Mount Allison a strong visual identity within the community. The Centre’s exterior expression is a balance of new and old, where Mount Allison’s classic red brick aesthetic meets modern glass, aluminum and white fibre-cement panels. The red rock-faced ashlar sandstone exterior matches the traditional campus buildings, honouring and integrating it with its surrounding heritage context. Large openings in the exterior sandstone walls provide natural light to interior spaces and invite views into the building framing various creative activities within.

The multi-level common area, anchored by a sculptural stair, is a focal point that invites diverse creative uses imagined as a lobby, gallery, lounge, workshop, crit space or event space. Minimal yet rich in its conception, the space provides a stage for students and teaching activities to unfold. Its unprogrammed informality and modest materials encourage interpretation and use. By extending the teaching and learning experiences to a variety of both formal and informal spaces throughout the building, the design encourages an integrative arts education.

The internal space connecting all three blocks is a crafted space.

Flexibility was an important criteria to facilitate the shared use of specialized studios, workshops, rehearsal space and crit rooms. The 100-seat performance space is designed as a flexible black box with retractable seating to accommodate thrust, arena or proscenium productions. Studios are interconnected to allow easy flow of art between workshops, and generous walkways and bridges over the multi-level common space connect the main teaching studios.

Sustainable design efforts focused on creating a high-quality interior environment with respect to air quality, daylighting and energy management. The building is almost entirely naturally ventilated, except for the self-contained theatre. Continuous clerestory glazing throughout studios and workshops let daylight penetrate into interior spaces and public corridors, minimizing excessive dependency on artificial lighting. The building energy load is further reduced by the use of energy efficient mechanical and electrical systems such as LED lighting throughout, high-performance glass walls, well-insulated stone cladding assemblies and reflective white roofing.

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Project Details

Location

Sackville, New Brunswick

Client

Mount Allison University

Status

Complete, 2014

Size

50,000 sq.ft. (4,600 sq.m.)

Sustainability

3 Green Globes

Scope

Architecture, Interior Design

Design and Executive Architect: Zeidler
Contract Administration: Martin Patriquin Architect

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