The Perry and Marty Granoff Center for the Creative Arts

THE
PERRY
AND
MARTY
GRANOFF
CENTER
FOR
THE
CREATIVE
ARTS

BROWN
UNIVERSITY,
PROVIDENCE,
RI

The Granoff Center for the Creative Arts advances new directions in teaching and research, and cross boundaries between the arts, sciences and the humanities. The 36,000 sf building includes a 200–seat recital hall and 35mm screening facility, a recording studio, multimedia lab, gallery space, and large multi–purpose production studios. Next in the species of the loft typology, the building is made up of large uninterrupted floor plates with interior surfaces ranging from raw to refined. The building program utilizes three floor plates that fill the site envelope. These floor plates are cut in the short axis along a shear line, and displaced in section to create six half levels, each with different technical and physical properties. The structured misalignment is a sectional opportunity, allowing each floor to interface two others conjoined by a shear glass wall. The landscape shears as well, half inclined toward the entrance lobby and half descending along the rake of the recital hall. Students and passersby are invited into this outdoor theater to witness activities on stage or screen. The building fosters creative exchange throughout. The landings of the main circulation stair are expanded and conceived as vertically stacked living rooms for serendipitous and planned encounters.

  • Rehearsal / production studio
    Rehearsal / production studio
  • View of zinc cladding looking north
    View of zinc cladding looking north
  • View from lobby, looking to theater below and workshop above
  • No description
Project information
Size (GSF)36000LocationProvidence, United States
Milestones
Commission2007groundbreaking22nd May 2009opening2011
Credits
Partners-in-ChargeCharles Renfro and Elizabeth Diller
PartnerRicardo Scofidio
Project DirectorGerard Sullivan
Project ArchitectAnthony Saby and Jesse Saylor
Design TeamChris Andreacola,Mateo Antonio de Cardenas,James Brucz,Robert Condon,Laith Sayigh,Michael Hundsnurscher,Hallie Terzopolos,Flavio Stigliano,Kailin Gregga,and Clint Keithley
External credits
Robert Silman AssociatesStructural Engineer
Altieri Sebor Wieber, LLCMechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Fire Protection Engineer
Nitsch EngineeringCivil Engineer
GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.Geotechnical Engineer
Atelier TenSustainability Consultants
Todd Rader + Amy CrewsLandscape Architect
Tillotson Design AssociatesLighting Designer
Hughes Associates, Inc.Life Safety Consultant
Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc.Façade Consultant
Leavitt Associates, Inc.Façade Peer Review
Construction Specifications, Inc.Specifications Consultant
R.G. Vanderweil Engineers, LLPIT/ Security Consultant
Jaffe Holden Acoustics/AVAcoustical and AV Consultant
Fisher Dachs AssociatesTheater Consultant
PentagramWayfinding
Malcolm GrearWayfinding
Assa Abloy Door Security SolutionsHardware Consultant
RDK EngineersCommissioning Agent
Shawmut Design and ConstructionConstruction Manager
    Photography by Iwan Baan