The architects tasked with designing the Center for the Arts at New Mexico State University offered the public a look at the preliminary designs for Phase I of the center.
The center is to be located on the corner of University Avenue and Espina Street, in a presentation at Corbett Center Monday night.
Speakers at the presentation, led by Malcolm Holzman of Holzman-Moss, the architectural group behind the design, said Phase I of the Center for the Arts would act as a gateway to the community.
Representatives from Holzman-Moss said the new construction would act as a "front door," which will invite the rest of the community onto campus, and eliminate the "perceived barrier" the university creates between campus and the rest of the community.
"Planning is underway to begin construction [in the] winter of 2009," said Jill Grammer, Center for the Arts development director.
The presentation showed Phase I as the first of four phases that will make up construction of the Center for the Arts.
"It is hoped that the entire project will be completed in 10 to 12 years," Grammer said.
The main attraction of Phase I will be a theater that will seat 500. The theater will seat 300 on the first level and 100 on each of two balconies. According to the presentation, no one in the audience will be further than 50 feet from performers.
Much of the funding for the project will come from General Obligation Bond D, which includes money for higher education projects across the state.
A pamphlet distributed at the presentation showed that Bond D would allocate $139.9 million to New Mexico colleges and universities with $21.4 million allotted to NMSU.
Grammer said $19 million of funding for Phase I will come from the bond and the remaining funds of the needed $37.5 million "will come from private individuals, additional state appropriations, corporations and foundations."
Presenters showed the new building is intended to fit in with the region, relying on things like local stone and metal fabrication and by integrating the idea of an arroyo into the design.
The building is also designed incorporating sustainable environmental principles and is evaluated using a standard green building rating system called the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) checklist. According to the LEED Web site, "LEED is a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings."
The goal for the Center for the Arts is a silver rating, but at present sits at a "low gold" allowing some leeway for the final design.
Phase I is being planned around eco-friendly principles such as reducing the consumption of energy, using natural ventilation, day lighting, using recycled materials and rapidly renewable materials. To achieve these goals, the design relies on such methods as displacement ventilation, photovoltaic cells, hot water evacuated tubes and ice storage.
Other phases of the project which have not yet been completed include: performance hall and support, a visual arts and shared classroom, and a future music/dance/Creative Media Institute space with shared classrooms.
More information is available at http://giving.nmsu.edu/campaign.php#centerforthearts.
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