DANBURY, CONN. — Collegedegreesearch.net, a Web-based search engine designed to help students determine their best college options, recently published a list of “The 25 Most Amazing Campus Arts Centers” on their site. The new Visual and Performing Arts Center at Western Connecticut State University was ranked No. 9 on the nationwide list.

Western’s facility is listed in the top 10 along with arts centers at California Polytechnic State University, Emerson College, Sonoma State University, the University of North Texas, Emory University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Lynn University, Soka University and the University of Northern Iowa. Farther down the list are large, private institutions that include the University of Notre Dame, Syracuse University, Depaul University and New York University

Dr. Dan Goble, dean of Western’s School of Visual and Performing Arts, was not surprised by the high ranking.

“This great news is yet another example of how WCSU represents a tremendous value for residents of Connecticut and the surrounding region,” Goble said. “This facility was designed by the finest architects, acousticians and theatrical consultants in the world … and it shows. We now have a facility that equals the outstanding students, faculty and staff who have always been a part of an arts education at WCSU.”

Facts about the Visual and Performing Arts Center

Function: Home to the university’s School of Visual & Performing Arts (SVPA), the only school of its kind in the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system.

Project Cost: $97 million, including programming, design, construction and equipment fit-out

Facility Size: 130,000 square feet

Design Architects: Holzman Moss Bottino Architecture

Architects of Record: Amenta/Emma

Construction Manager: Dimeo Construction

Specialty Consultants: JaffeHolden (Acoustics); Fisher Dachs Associates (Theatre)

Primary Features

• Three architecturally distinct wings for the departments of art, music and theatre arts, connected through a stunning multi-tiered lobby.

• Art gallery, featuring Panelock System 200 gallery display system, end-cut maple flooring and floor to ceiling windows delivering artist-preferred northern light.

• Concert hall, seating in the round on three levels for an audience of up to 350, with variable acoustics, state-of-the-art performance audio and lighting, 5:1 HD recording and two Concert Grand pianos Steinway Model “D” (Hamburg), Yamaha CFX.

• Main stage theatre, featuring seating for an audience of up to 350 with top-of-the-line acoustics and sight-lines, orchestra pit to accommodate up to 30 musicians, 38-foot proscenium, full fly facility with 51 manual line sets, movable stage electrics, 400 plus ETC fixtures, Varilite and Martin automated lighting, with Eos lighting and Digico audio consoles.

• Recording studio, featuring a Solid State Logic Duality audio console in the control room, a “live room” with two isolation booths and a Yamaha CF4 Grand Piano. The recording studio also boasts the capability of digitally recording from any of the building’s five audio-equipped performance and rehearsal venues.

• Studio theatre, featuring flexible seating for up to 125 audience members, performance lighting and audio with an Ion control desk.

• Spacious art studios for drawing, graphic design, painting, photography and sculpture.

• Eighteen distinctive art studios for MFA students.

• Theatre rehearsal studios, featuring sprung dance floors and performance audio/visual systems.

• Fully outfitted scene and costume shops.

• Dressing rooms for chorus and guest artists.

• Twenty-eight practice rooms, acoustically treated and isolated; four with Yamaha or Steinway pianos, five specially designed and outfitted for our audio and music production majors.

Awards and Accolades

ClarkDietrich Building Systems: Design Excellence and Construction Innovation Award from the Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute (CFSEI)

U.S. Green Buildings Council: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver status

For more information, visit www.wcsu.edu/svpa/svpa-center.asp or contact the Office of University Relations at (203) 837-8486.

Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England’s best small private universities.