Kent School, Music Department & Mattison Auditorium

the story

The final auditorium space seats 350 and is multi-functional, used for music, theater, lectures, and movies. Additionally, a new gallery space and lobby were created as an interior link between the auditorium and dining hall and an elevator tower was constructed to connect lower level spaces to the main floor art gallery, auditorium and dining hall, and the third-floor music department.

The new music department which includes a rehearsal room, classroom and practice spaces was created above the existing dining hall by opening up the third-floor dorm rooms into the attic space above to increase the volume for sound, space and lighting. The floors, walls and practice rooms were treated with the latest sound-attenuating materials and construction techniques.

at-a-glance

TYPE:

Renovation

PRACTICE:

Architecture

Construction Management

Design Build

Interior Design

Pre-Construction Services

Programming & Planning

Structural Engineering

LOCATION:

Kent, CT

STATUS:

Completed February 2014

SIZE:

25,000 sf

INSIGHT

Kent School needed to update and expand their Music and Arts program spaces within existing and buildings that weren’t connected physically. An affordable alternative to building new was the renovation of an existing theater and the utilization of an older dorm located on an upper floor of an adjacent building. The challenge was to renovate these spaces to meet programmatic needs and to connect them in such a way as to be cohesive.

The complexity of converting a 1930’s double-loaded corridor dormitory into an acoustic music and practice space posed many challenges.

This project presented many construction and sequencing challenges. SLAM took on the task of managing an extremely invasive project for a facility that needed to provide uninterrupted service to the school. With SLAM’s unique delivery approach, our design-build team anticipated these challenges and incorporated design solutions, where applicable, into the bid documents. SLAM developed a phasing and sequencing plan that would address project constraints. It was most important to detail the sequencing within the bid documents to allow contractors a full understanding of the project expectations.

SOLUTION

As an integrated team, SLAM designed and sequenced the construction utilizing existing buildings within an occupied campus. The design solution produced a new gallery space and lobby that serves as an interior link between the Dining Hall Building that houses the Music Rooms and the Auditorium Building.

SLAM’s in-house estimating team worked closely with our designers since they were a short walk within our building. In SLAM’s approach, we embedded our estimator with the designers to allow a continuous flow of information to pass between them as systems were being considered and designed.

The new music department required a challenging renovation of an existing 1930’s double loaded corridor dormitory floor located directly above an operational kitchen and dining hall. Extensive structural design, phasing and logistics were required to open the existing floor plate and volume of space, replacing the floors, walls and attic while leaving the exterior shell in-tact.

A new corridor gallery space and lobby were created as an interior link between the renovated auditorium and the original dining hall structure. Within this access a new elevator tower was constructed to connect lower level spaces to the main floor art gallery, auditorium and dining hall, and the third-floor music department.

To avoid the summer rush and take advantage of a more available subcontractor market, SLAM used the school’s spring break to take on a challenging aspect of the project, an 18 foot deep elevator pit which opened 4 weeks for the summer schedule.

IMPACT

The SLAM team designed and renovated the existing auditorium and support spaces, including upgrades to stage area, the house, and the lobby, resulting in an award-winning multi-functional space for 350-people used for music, theater, lectures, and movies. The design also features a large lobby and gallery sized to accommodate receptions and beautiful new music practice rooms within the trussed second floor roof line.