University of Central Arkansas: Windgate Center for Fine & Performing Arts

Conway, AR

A rare campus building that combines both fine and performing arts education programs under one roof, creating avenues for interaction and discovery.

The UCA Center for Fine & Performing Arts is designed to create, collaborate, and most importantly—connect. The vibrant, multi-disciplinary Hub for Visual Arts, Theater, and Music at the UCA Conway campus blends into the historic campus core while projecting a vision for the future. The facility strives to achieve a balance between function and beauty in an open, collaborative environment. Highlighting and celebrating the arts in an Arts Commons—a through-lobby connecting two entry points—is a focal point of artistic display, pedagogical interaction, and daily student life.

The project strives for design equity, promoting and celebrating inclusion and diversity of thought, expression, and collaboration. The linear configuration of the Arts Commons is based on outward connections to the campus and the city, tying the heart of the building metaphorically to “town and gown” and encouraging use by all. A social stair at the center of the commons connects the two floors of the building and provides a place for casual hangout or impromptu discourse, while a second-story bridge spans the space. A gallery opens out into the commons, while an array of flexible performance spaces—a concert hall, black box, and choral room—spill out into the Hub to give it life both day and night.

Combining all of the arts under one roof maximized the value of the project. Shared common spaces and infrastructure are not only efficient, but they foster and encourage chance interactions. The center also houses 2D and 3D arts studios as well as a student gallery/critique space, student work rooms and labs, and instruction spaces. It contains new major music spaces for the university as well, including a 450-seat concert hall, percussion suite, practice rooms, and a rehearsal/recital hall. The 180-seat black box theater includes a 3,500 sf scene shop and support rooms.

This project was designed by Pfeiffer prior to joining Perkins Eastman.

Project Facts

Client:

University of Central Arkansas

Size :

99,800 sf

Services:

Design, Programming, Construction Administration

Project Partner :

WER Architects

Practice Areas:

Arts + Culture, College + University

Region:

United States

Studios:

Los Angeles

News

"University of Central Arkansas holds seal-breaking for Windgate Center," Fox16, Sep. 21, 2023

"UCA Celebrates Topping Out of Windgate Performing Arts Center," Arkansas Money & Politics, July 30, 2021

"UCA Gets $3 Million Gift for New Arts Center," Arkansas Times, Oct. 9, 2020