Francis Marion University, Performing Arts Center Florence, South Carolina
Resulting from a partnership between a range of public and private entities, the center forms the new regional artistic focus. It attracts audiences from the areas offering educational programs for the public and students at the university. Located near the recently completed main library, little theater and museum, the center forms an anchor for a growing downtown Florence cultural district.
Location
Florence, South Carolina
Sector
Arts
Service
Architecture
Client
Francis Marion University
Status
Completed
Size
73,000 SF
900-Seat Multi-Purpose Theater
100-Seat Studio Theater
Hosting academic, professional, local, and touring performing arts groups, the main 900-seat multi-purpose hall accommodates a range of performance genres. A patented movable, one-piece orchestra shell transforms the auditorium from a music environment to a full stage house for theatrical presentations, ensuring optimal acoustics in both settings.
Electronically controlled, the groundbreaking device allows this community to host performances which it was previously unable to accommodate, paving the way for the staging of larger scale, touring presentations. A 100-seat flexible theater, classroom, and performance laboratories serves a wide variety of educational and touring programs in music, drama, and dance.
Awards
Marble Institute of America: Pinnacle Award of Merit for Sustainability, 2011
United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT): Architecture Merit Award, 2012
College Degree Search: 25 Most Amazing Campus Arts Centers, 2015