$31.5 million project part of $133.8 million Measure N funding
[caption id="attachment_20985" align="alignright" width="288" caption="Rendering of the Napa Valley College Performing Arts Center"][/caption]
NAPA – The Napa Valley College Performing Arts Center, a $31.5 million project funded by the 2002 Measure N bond, is 95 percent complete with just another month of work to do.
“We are projecting May 18 for the start of the punch list,” said Dan TerAvest, director of campus planning and construction.
The performing arts center is just one project funded by the $133.8 million bond.
There is also a gym, library, life science building, chiller plant, solar field, parking lot work, art classrooms, improved ball field and an upgraded tennis court, some of which are already complete.
However, the performing arts center will serve as a redefined gateway to the campus with a pronounced facade. It includes a 500-seat proscenium theater and a 100-seat actors studio.
The 47,000-square-foot building is designed at the LEED-certified level though, said Mr. TerAvest, the college will not apply for the actual certification.
“Because theaters are more about acoustics and mass, they cannot do daylight harvesting because there are no windows,” he said.
There are three levels to the center, which was designed by HGA Architects and Engineers. On the design team are Fred Sherman, principal in charge; Loren Ahles, project designer; Todd Kraft, project architect; and Esther Gonzalez-Parber, project manager.
The first level will house a studio theater with catwalks, scene shop, costume studio, acting studio as well as theater support.
The second level will include performance space, a lobby and terrace and public entry from the parking lot.
The third level will feature music rehearsal space, choral rehearsal, orchestral rehearsal, practice rooms and piano classrooms. The facility is sited on the east side of campus as a public/community outreach building.
HGA said, “The primary challenge in the design of this highly technical building is it needs to serve both the theater and music programs.”
Dealing with these challenges required a lot of coordination with the consultants on design, space planning and construction on this highly technical performing arts center to allow the other elements of the program to surround and support the faculty, staff and campus.
Work was done to highlight the educational value of the building, said Mr. TerAvest.
“It is a teaching theater not a commercial venue,” he said.
The project has been under construction since the fall of 2008. The first performances are expected in the fall of this year.
Additional consultants on the project include Forell/Elsesser Engineers Inc., structural engineer; Timmons Engineers, mechanical, electrical, plumbing; Chaudhary & Associates, civil engineer; Acoustic Dimensions, acoustical engineer; O’Mahoney & Myer, electrical engineer; Sandis, civil engineer; Auerbach, Pollock, Friedlander, theater consultant; Kate Keating Associates Inc., signage; and Quadriga, landscape architecture.
Broward Brothers Inc. is the general contractor
