Curtain soon rises on performing arts destination featuring river wall, auditorium, and music education spaces
Contractors will soon finish installing glass on exterior walls at Moline High School’s new Bartlett Performing Arts Center. The addition and renovation, designed by Legat Architects and built by Russell Construction, will not only expand educational opportunities, but also create a regional performing arts destination.
Those who see the new main entry to the east will likely notice a stone wall. This 230-foot-long “river wall,” inspired by Moline’s location amid two rivers, curves along the corridor that separates the auditorium from new educational spaces, then ends outside the secondary west entrance.
Lobby drywall is up and installation of ceramic tile in restrooms has started. Legat also designed a large arts graphic that will decorate a lobby wall.
Ceiling grid has been installed in the rooms within the north addition, whose tan brick matches that of the existing building. When students return from winter break, they will have access to a new instrumental music room, a choral room, and a multipurpose room that can be used as a black box theater for smaller performances.
Contractors are also busy with the auditorium makeover, scheduled for completion in February 2019. Construction of the intricate rigging system used to raise and lower scenes is in progress. Soon, ceiling lights, speakers, and acoustic wood “clouds” will be finished, along with the proscenium that surrounds the front of the stage. The proscenium’s maple wood paneling will match that of the clouds.
The Bartlett Performing Arts Center is made possible through a partnership with the Robert E. Bartlett Family Foundation.
Contact us to learn more about performing arts center or educational design, or comment below to share your thoughts on this post.
