Performance Architecture shared with us their design for the University of Miami’s Frost College of Music Center for Experiential Music. The performance building is foreseen as a “jewel” on Lake Osceola, and its design is a pure reflection of the University’s innovative teaching philosophy. Collaborative teaching and learning are fully facilitated by this proposed structure, which allows multiple facets of interaction among its inhabitants.
Learn more about The University of Miami Frost College of Music Center for Experiential Music after the break.
The visualization for the school is focused on “experiential studios” which allow collaborative and flexible learning. Each discipline is fractioned into “pods” that can be grouped collectively or closed to the other by movable partitions, forming a customizable larger or smaller practice space.
Each of the three building pods, situated toward the west periphery of the site, has classrooms and percussion studios at ground level, and then pods on each level above. These pods are projected to translate as a stone cube with layers chipped away to reveal white plaster below, establishing a playfulness of the façade. The spaces carved into this stone mass break down the scale of the building, deceiving the viewer in perspective. In addition to the pods, the program consists of a large recital hall, along with two medium-sized recital halls, studios, and administrative offices.
Alongside Lake Osceola, the mass of stone structure, combined with the lightness of curtain wall enables a profound reflection. Described by Performance Architecture, “the lake glows as a transparent element with the stone-clad masses of the performance halls piercing its skin.” This is where the notion of the performance building as a glistening “jewel” comes into place.
When all assembled collectively, the University of Miami Frost College of Music Center for Experiential Music enables impromptu performance arts in its way of thinking, translating architecturally into these adaptable learning pods. The capability to record music with the touch of a button is, if anything, impressive and speaks for its supremely designed architectural acoustics. The building is expected to achieve LEED Silver Certification, while a completion date has not yet been set.
Architect: Performance Architecture – New Orleans, LA Location: Miami, Florida, USA Acoustician: Russ Berger Design Group Project Area: 82,767 GSF Project Year: 2011 Client: University of Miami Phase: Completed Programming & Master planning Budget: $40,000,000 Program: LEED Silver Certification, Large Recital Hall (175 seats), 2 Medium Recital Halls (50 seats each), Experiential Music Studios, Music Classrooms, Percussion Practice Rooms, Recording Studios, Administrative Offices.
