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Texas Christian University is building a new facility that has nothing to do with its most beloved sport. The school known for its football fanatics is spending $53 million to build a performing arts facility on the campus’ eastern edge, where a parking lot sits currently.

鈥淭he project expands their educational facilities and gives them a 700-seat concert hall,鈥� said Michael Tingley, Bora Architects‘ principal in charge of designing the facility.

One of the first tasks for architects was coming up with a way to ensure the building would be complementary.

鈥淭he campus is a mix of buildings from different eras,鈥� Tingley said. 鈥淪ome are relatively recent and others are very old. We tried to match the materials of the campus.鈥�

The facility will include an auditorium as well as a 5,000-square-foot rehearsal hall for the school’s marching band. The biggest challenge in designing the space was meeting acoustic requirements so that the building would be able to host competitions.

鈥淭he Van Cliburn International Piano Competition is arguably the world’s finest,鈥� said Richard Gipson, director of the TCU School of Music. 鈥淚t was founded here at TCU. Ultimately, we are hopeful that it could (be served by) a venue in a little more appropriate size.鈥�

The competition was held on the TCU campus before moving to a facility in downtown Fort Worth, Texas, in 2001. The junior competition is scheduled to move to Dallas in 2019.

In order to host early rounds of the competition, the concert hall must have acoustics vastly superior to anywhere else on campus. The auditorium’s roof will be nearly 60 feet high 鈥� twice the height of the rest of the building.

鈥淭he concert hall is a particularly large place,鈥� Gipson said. 鈥淲e need that size for acoustic volume. It will allow the volume to build and bounce.鈥�

The hall will also have curved reflectors above the stage. They can be moved, depending on the size of the group playing and the size of the audience. Seating will surround the stage rather than only in front of it to improve sightlines.

鈥淭he audience will surround the stage 360 degrees,鈥� Tingley said. 鈥淚t creates wonderful opportunities for teaching and helps the audience.鈥�

The facility will also feature a large amount of wood to add warmth to the music being played. The perimeter of the auditorium will have small, vertical, wooden slats that can be moved to allow sound to pass through and then bounce off walls.

Also, a screen will be positioned above the stage to include visual elements. The projector will be housed in a soundproof booth in order to prevent noise from contaminating music being played.

鈥淓very surface in the room is carefully thought about in terms of how it will affect the sound,鈥� Tingley said.

The auditorium’s design will also create a crown-like exterior appearance that can be illuminated for various events. Gipson believes the project will provide great benefits for both the university and the architecture firm.

鈥淚t has been extraordinary to work with Bora,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen this project is completed (in 2020), it will cement their portfolio in the performing arts.鈥�

The project extends a traditional commitment to the arts at a school where football is king.

鈥淲e are a program that aspires to be a national and international leader,鈥� Gipson said. 鈥淚t’s well established what a new performing arts facility can do for a university.鈥�

Design Beyond Borders is a 91视频 feature offering a look at the projects outside of Oregon being tackled by local architecture firms. To have your firm’s projects considered, contact the 91视频 newsroom at 503-802-7222 or [email protected].