Located on the Worcester Hills at the heart of the College of the Holy Cross – a university complex founded by the Jesuits in the 19th century, one of the most prestigious training institutions in the States for liberal arts – the new multipurpose centre for education in the visual and performing arts is characterised by a dual vocation: the institutional one, echoing the emblazoned mission of the university, and the informal one that is represented by the intent to act as an “incubator” for multidisciplinary collaboration and the promotion of spontaneous and inclusive forms of art and expression.

The conceptual and connective epicentre of the composition, designed by New-York-based firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro, is the ‘Beehive’, the multifunctional atrium serving as an open stage for study and free performance by all students, regardless of their academic background, which includes a shared multimedia teaching space, collaborative work and rehearsal spaces, and a cafe.

Four functional programmes surround the central space: a 400-seat concert hall (Luth Concert Hall), a 200-seat experimental theatre (Boroughs Theatre), an art gallery (Iris and B. Gerald Cantor) and technical support and production spaces, including a recording studio, scene shop, costume shop, lighting and set design study and multi-use practice rooms. Several facilities are also located outdoors, including an amphitheatre and gardens for meditation and creative work.

On the outside, the building stands out as a strongly recognisable, sculptural volume. The shell, finished in raw, industrial materials – such as exposed concrete and corten steel – is defined by its articulated geometries. A projecting roof overhang and generous glazing allow the teeming life of the interior to filter through, offering a warm welcome to the Center.