The Conservatory of Theatre Arts, the School of Film and Media Studies, and related arts programs at SUNY Purchase College were scattered across a number of different buildings on its sprawling campus, and in need of a centralized location to provide unity and purpose.
The Center for Media, Film, and Theatre creates a new space for these programs while promoting its mission of integration and collaboration between conservatory programs in the arts and liberal arts programs. Our design provides teaching, learning, and performance spaces to encourage and showcase collaboration between areas of study. Portions of the Center occupy existing space under an exterior plaza, previously used for storage and receiving. The facility provides a new entry pavilion and gathering space, designed to connect the public arrival experience up through the plaza to the heart of the campus.
Natural light fills the Center, providing a transparency and contrast to the surrounding architecture and consequentially increasing visibility for the theatre, film, media, and related arts programs.