Music School, Montclair State University
My Role: Senior Project Manager for the Owner during the Construction Phase of the Project
Owner: Montclair State University
Architect: RMJM / Hillier
Contractor: Brockwell & Carrington
Construction Manger: Gilbane
About the Project:
The John J. Cali School of Music is an adaptive re-use project that transforms a former dormitory and classroom building into a state-of-the-art teaching, practice and performance facility, and creates a new “gateway” building for the campus.
Built in 1928 in the Spanish Mission Style, the building originally known as Chapin Hall served as a dormitory until a later renovation transformed it into a classroom and departmental office facility. In 2005, the University commissioned RMJM Hillier Architecture to renovate and expand the original structure to establish a new home for the John J. Cali School of Music.
The program calls for a 250-seat recital hall; teaching studios; music practice and rehearsal rooms; and faculty offices. Another goal of the project is to comply with a Certification Level according to the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Rating System.
To accommodate the program, the design proposes a new 23,000-square-foot, 2-story addition to the original 5-story, 29,000-square-foot structure, for a total of 52,000 square feet. The need for superior acoustics required the design team to overcome several challenges posed by the building’s existing tight floor-to-floor heights and older mechanical systems. Practice rooms and teaching studios are designed as a “box within a box” for acoustic isolation from other rooms. Innovative HVAC design accommodates the low floor-to-floor height (9’8”) of the building for superior soundproofing and optimal humidity and temperature control.
Exterior renovations to the building reorient the main entrance to face College Avenue, a major thoroughfare on campus, rather than the quadrangle, where the original entry was located. The new façade offers a picturesque interpretation of the original Spanish Mission Style and provides a formal gateway to the campus.
Check out the Photos from the opening event and a multimedia tribute to the Calis, who donated $5M towards the School of Music.
Also Check Out:
- My Personal Architecture Portfolio
- Conrad J. Schmitt Hall Renovation, Montclair State University
- From Paper and Pencil to Reality Through Collaboration
- Babbio Center, Stevens Institute of Technology
- Student Recreation Center, Montclair State University
- Music School, Montclair State University
- Frank Sinatra Hall, Montclair State University
- Delaware Welcome Center
We would love to hear from you on what you think about this post. We sincerely appreciate all your comments.
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Sincerely,
Frank Cunha III
I Love My Architect – Facebook
FC3 ARCHITECTURE+DESIGN, LLC
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