Creative Arts Center Facility Profile
Architect: Alex Mahood, Beckley, WV
Contractor: Baker & Coombs, Morgantown, WV
The architects originally designed the Creative Arts Center to be constructed in three phases. Construction of Phase I began in 1966. Phase I was occupied in November 1968. Phase II was occupied in 1973. The Ceramics and Sculpture Addition was occupied in March 1993. Phase III was not constructed.
Gross Area: 210,000 square feet The Center is the home of the College of Creative Arts, which is comprised of the three academic units: Division of Art, Division of Music, and Division of Theatre and Dance.
Facility Design: Phase I was round in shape, both for aesthetics and for the practical purpose of eliminating the necessity of constructing non-parallel walls. It provides rectangular-shaped rooms, rather than square, to decrease the sound reflection and provide optimal acoustics. Phase II and the Ceramics/Sculpture Addition were constructed in the more traditional rectangular form with square corners. This best meets the needs of the shops, theatres and art studios, which occupy these areas. Phase III's proposed designed repeated the round shape found in Phase I. As part of its Master Building Plan, the University reviewed the plans for Phase III in 1998 and determined that its completion would not be financially feasible at that time. A committee made up of faculty and staff of the College then undertook a review of space assignments within the existing building during 2000-2001. The committee came up with a plan for space reallocation and renovation suggestions for the facility in order to meet current academic needs more effectively. The existing facility is comprised of the following performance areas:
- Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre (1441-seat continental style theatre)
- Gladys G. Davis Theatre (216-seat thrust style theatre)
- Antoinette Falbo Theatre (105-seat black box style theatre)
- The Bloch Learning and Performing Hall (155-seat recital hall)
- Vivian Davis Michael Laboratory Theatre (75-seat theatre)
The Paul and Laura Mesaros Galleries are adjacent to the Main Lobby of the Creative Arts Center.
The facility is further comprised of nine conventional classrooms, five computer labs, eight visual art studios, ceramics shops, sculpture shops, theatre wood and paint shops, theatre costume shops, dark rooms, dressing rooms, and private offices and studios for the 125 faculty and staff of the College.