The Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Belmont University

Nashville, Tennessee

Firm

ESa

Client

Belmont University

Area

155,000 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$163,000,000

Completion Date

09/2021

Nick Merrick (c), Hall + Merrick 2021

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Design Team
David Minnigan (Principal, Design Manager); Randy Nale (Principal, Senior Project Manager); Darrell Lambert (Senior Project Manager); Janet Wennerlund (Interior Designer

Belmont University commissioned ESa to design “the finest performing arts center on a university campus.” The classically designed 1,700-seat, multipurpose proscenium theater has a proscenium connection to a 90-foot tall, 7,800-square-foot stage house, an 1,800-square-foot warm-up/rehearsal room, dressing rooms, and full back-of-house capabilities. Students perform in a world-class facility and technical theater students hone their skills for future use in such a facility.

Classically inspired but modern in its execution and interpretation of historical elements, the entrance elements are not on the centerline, which allows for an 8,000-square-foot lobby flanked by two 3,500-square-foot recital halls with different acoustic capabilities. Combined, these spaces can accommodate 900 seated guests.

• Challenge 1: A 60-plus-foot grade change from front to back of the site with the main façade lobby entrances at the lower end.
• Challenge 2: A compressed timeline of 4½ years, resulting in completion of the project in exactly 4 years and 5 days. Typical build time is 6 to 7 years.
• Challenge 3: The project was constructed during the worst part of the Covid-19 pandemic.