University of Maryland, Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center

College Park, Maryland, USA

Alan Karchmer/Esto

At the time of its opening, this arts complex—totaling 318,000 square feet—was the largest single building ever built in Maryland. We designed the multi-venue center to be an arts village to house the School of Music, the School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies, the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library, and the university band program.

Each unit has its own neighborhood with distinct performance, rehearsal, and support facilities that all have a central access point in the lobby, which serves as the Main Street of the arts village. The departments are linked by a cross street, and at the intersection of the Main Street and the cross street sits a café for community gathering.

Alan Karchmer/Esto

owner:

University of Maryland

architect:

Moore Ruble Yudell | Ayers Saint Gross

acoustician:

Kirkegaard Associates

users:

University of Maryland academic programs, artists-in-residence, and touring performances

spaces:

1,100-seat multipurpose theatre
650-seat drama theatre
300-seat recital hall
200-seat studio theatre
180-seat dance theatre
100-seat studio theatre

construction type:

New construction

theatre type:

Arts & cultural centers, Auditorium design/seating, College & university, Concept design, Dance venues, Drama theatres, Flexible & studio theatres, Music venues, Program development

services:

Program confirmation, concept design, theatre planning, and theatre equipment design and specification

completion:

2001

Alan Karchmer/Esto