worcester state university auditorium interior from the back

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Auditorium Spaces in Higher Education

Auditorium spaces are frequently used on most college campuses, providing a large and versatile learning environment, but strategic investments are needed to keep pace with evolving needs and teaching pedagogies. LPA|A has undertaken a number of studies for colleges to assess existing auditorium teaching and learning spaces. Many older buildings on college campuses across the state are not meeting current standards on a number of fronts, including accessibility, energy efficiency, technology capacity, and ultimately, educationally.

Key Contacts

Michael Williams

Associate

Associate AIA

Peter A. Caruso, Jr.

Principal

AIA, LEED AP, NCARB

Sean W. Brennan

Marketing and Business Development Director

AIA, NCARB

Modern and Accessible

The renovation to Worcester State University’s Sullivan Auditorium took a building that pre-dated the Americans with Disabilities Act and made it fully accessible throughout. With colleges expected to be at the leading edge of equity and inclusion to remain competitive, investments in these large and frequently used spaces are critical to their mission. A raised platform with accessible ramps now allows for wheelchair accessibility from the lobby to the stage, to seating and the academic building without having to use a lift. Seating capacity in the auditorium was reduced to accommodate the accessibility features, including larger seating options. Additionally, new theatrical lighting and sound systems make for a vastly improved theater and lecture experience.

Front entrance of an auditorium building viewed from across the street

The architects at Lamoureux Pagano Associates deftly managed to create a fully compliant design. They did an absolutely fantastic job in figuring out how we could meet every code requirement for accessibility standards. It was not only important to make the site accessible, but it also had to have multi-use flexibility to meet the needs of all the various groups that use the facility.

Sandra Olson, Assistant Vice president for Facilities, Operations and Planning, Worcester State University

Spaces for Large Classes

UMass Amherst, with the second largest student body of any college in the state, has a high need for multiple large auditorium spaces to accommodate the scheduling of popular lectures across a range of disciplines. LPA|A completed a study that looked at options for renovating and upgrading the Thompson Auditorium space, a building that dates back to 1966. High priorities for the university were to make the building fully accessible, to upgrade all systems to bring them up to current standards, and to meet the school’s ambitious goals for campus-wide energy efficiency.

Technology Expands Reach

The College of the Holy Cross asked LPA|A to renovate their Hogan Center Room 519, and once outfitted with a full complement of audio/visual technologies, it went from being an underutilized space to one of the most popular spaces for lectures, film presentations and other meetings. The technological capabilities of these spaces can also allow for hybrid in person/remote interaction, providing opportunities for remote guest speakers and allowing greater accessibility for students with barriers to in-person daily attendance.