The Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts and Science is a new state-of-the-art performance venue in Lubbock, Texas designed by Diamond Schmitt in association with Lubbock architects Parkhill and MWM Architects.
The birthplace of iconic musician Buddy Holly, Lubbock is now also home to West Texas’ largest dedicated performance venue, which brings together under one roof the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra and Lubbock Ballet, as well as the Lubbock Independent School District and a variety of professional touring music and theatre production groups.
This landmark designation grew from community needs and is inspired by the physical and cultural landscape of Lubbock. The modern facade draws from the prismatic and layered rock formations of Texas canyons and balances various approaches of creating shade to counter the extreme temperature fluctuations of the local climate. A long overhang, angled concrete fins and deep-set ribbon windows act to shade the building and filter light without impacting views of the wide vistas that surround. The use of glass at ground-level dissolves boundaries between indoors and outdoors, providing a seamless transition for visitors entering and exiting the hall.
The main hall anchors Lubbock’s arts and culture district and features the grand 2297-seat Helen DeVitt Jones Theatre, the more intimate 415-person Crickets Theatre, and other spaces for rehearsal, events and performance, was well as a restaurant, two-multi-purpose rooms and an outdoor tiered and covered amphitheater.
The two signature theatres were designed in collaboration with partners Jaffe Holden Acoustics and Schuler Shook Theatre Planners, ensuring premier acoustics and optimal theatre capabilities no matter the type of performance. Both theatres achieve clear and crystalline sound on a level that competes with the world’s leading performance halls.
