Chapman University Musco Center for the Arts

The 88,000-sf Chapman University Musco Center for the Arts is a world-class performing arts center and education facility for the theater, music and dance departments of the University’s College of Performing Arts, as well as a cultural destination campus. The center’s Julianne Argyros Orchestra Hall features 1,044 seats on three levels in a multipurpose proscenium-style theater. The center also includes a recording studio, dressing rooms, scene shop, prop shop, administrative offices and a multi-level lobby. Unique sound features include a field-applied plaster sound lid, “petal walls” and a multifaceted radius millwork balcony front—each weighing 20 lb per sq ft. Stringent acoustical needs demanded extensive resilient hanger and vibration isolation requirements for mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, and acoustical detailing at all penetrations. The project team used Lean Construction delivery methods, 3-D laser scanning, and 3-D BIM, allowing the team to work efficiently and tackle challenges quickly. 

Awards & Recognition

2016 ENR California Best Projects Award of Merit, Culture/Worship Category