One of the goals of the project is for the new facility to be energy efficient, with super insulation and triple glazed windows.
A 400 s.f. addition to the east of the existing mill building provides a new entrance for student drop off/pick up. This entrance leads into a main circulation gallery that connects through the existing building to the new recital hall and lobby. Flexible rehearsal rooms are located to the left; piano and percussion rooms are on the right. Crossing the main circulation gallery is an existing double height clerestory space. This will be used to bring natural light into the center of the building, illuminating the music library at one end, where views open up to the Whetstone Brook just behind the building. Two large classrooms, can double as small recital spaces and green rooms for performers.
To the west of the existing building, a 6,000 s.f. addition creates a new formal entrance for the performance space. An L-shaped lobby acts as a connector between the new and old, letting sunlight penetrate into the building while keeping a visual connection to the brook beyond. The recital hall’s main floor can seat two hundred and twenty eight with the permanent stage or one hundred seventy four with the full stage extension. The balcony seats seventy two. This hall is designed in size, shape and acoustics to be an optimum environment for chamber music. However, with the stage extension the hall will be able to accommodate a wide range of performances, from a soloist to a mid sized orchestra or choir.