February 22 marked a day of celebration at the University of Nevada, Reno. Faculty, administrators, students, and community members gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the University Arts Building, a facility that enhances the presence of the arts on campus and in the surrounding Northern Nevada community. Our design responds to rising student enrollment and growing interest in the arts, and provides much needed space for UNR’s new and expanded arts programs.

The new University Arts Building expands the existing Church Fine Arts Complex, which opened in 1962, and connects the two facilities into a seamless arts complex via a skywalk. The entrance features a multi-tiered lobby that joins the plaza, street, and bridge levels into a multilayered experience to showcase art, music, and performance. Our design utilizes the topography of the site in the heart of campus to create an active outdoor area that connects campus pedestrian walkways.

“UNR is known as a vibrant arts campus. This new facility solidifies the University’s commitment to the arts by not only adding a special venue to elevate performances and education of the arts, but also providing a building designed to expose the rest of campus to these wonderful activities within,” said Principal Peter Rutti, AIA. “The University Arts Building will be home to world-class performances and major exhibitions the entire community can enjoy.”

The facility includes a 287-seat recital hall, a unique electro acoustic composition lab for digital music production, recording studio, digital fabrication lab blending art and music disciplines, additional rehearsal and practice rooms, faculty offices and studios, and the University Art Museum. The electro acoustic composition lab features octophonic sound, with eight speakers positioned around the room that can work in unison or function independently to support the creation and performance of music.

Funding for the $35.5 million building is a combination of private philanthropy gifts and University monies.