Ithaca College, The James J. Whalen Center for Music

Ithaca, New York

Firm

HOLT Architects, PC

Client

Ithaca College

Area

69,000 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$14,285,000

Completion Date

08/2000

The addition houses faculty and rehearsal studios, classrooms, comprehensive music education and performance space. It wraps around sides of the existing Ford Hall, creating a new ceremonial entrance to the building and its 750-seat concert hall, and to a new 250-seat recital hall. The interface of the existing building and the addition is accomplished with a four-story, skylighted atrium. An overhead bridge provides an indoor connection from visitor parking to the building.
Management of sound forms the core of the building program. For studios, room-within-a-room design isolates interior surfaces from those of neighboring rooms. In performance spaces, room volumes, geometries and surface treatments are designed to produce optimal listening qualities. The building is humidity-controlled.
The exterior masonry cavity wall construction is clad in red brick and in harmony with many campus buildings. Light gray brick relates to nearby concrete and limestone facades. The overall palette is cool, emphasizing greens and blues, creating an effect of calm sophistication and providing a counterpoint to the dazzling vibrance of the soaring central atrium.