CSU San Bernardino - College of Arts & Letters Theatre Renovation and Addition

Enhancing the Campus Performing Arts Experience

The new 73,000 SF Performing Arts Center at California State University San Bernardino (CSUSB) is designed to be a welcoming “front door” and cultural beacon for the campus and surrounding community. A collaborative effort between HGA’s Los Angeles and Minneapolis offices, the center will provide modern teaching, rehearsal, and event gathering, as well as a new performing arts theater.

The defining feature of the Performing Arts Center is the prominent roof form that extends out from the lobby to provide solar shading and invites the campus and community inside. The sloping roof establishes clear massing connections between the new buildings and the original 1970s structure. A sinuous and playful feature wall comprised of vertically oriented painted aluminum baguettes extends from the lobby interior to the building’s entry plaza. The overall geometry of the center helps define relationships between the new and existing buildings, provides clear orientations, and creates a cohesive architectural identity for the College of Arts and Letters on campus.

The centerpiece of the facility is a fully ADA-accessible 500-seat performing arts theatre planned with equity and access for all in mind, with a full stage and fly tower that will seamlessly accommodate theatrical and musical performances. The acoustics of the room can be tuned and tailored to each performance type using variable acoustic draperies hidden throughout the room, as well as moveable orchestra shell towers and rigged ceiling elements. Parterre and caliper seating is incorporated, allowing a variety of seating arrangements and equitable experience for users.

The facility will also provide much needed acoustically appropriate, sound isolated rehearsal spaces that can be used by both the Theatre Arts and Music Departments, along with practice rooms, dressing rooms, wardrobe space, expanded scene shop, and faculty studios.