Identifying a need for additional social and performance spaces on campus, Columbia University selected Jack L. Gordon Architects to transform an underutilized basement-level space and mezzanine in the Alfred Lerner Hall student center into a 4,932 SF venue to support a variety of artistic disciplines and formats, including stage-based performances for audiences, group-based artistic activities, and formal gatherings.
The new architectural scheme resolved existing obstacles including limited ceiling height, an inconveniently located stair, and inadequate acoustics and lighting. As a result, the Walter and Shirley Wang Pavilion can now be configured for rowed seating, standing room, banquet setups, recitals, classroom tables, and conference tables.
Students entering the Wang Pavilion find themselves in a dynamic and contemporary environment where the new stair discreetly flanks the new stage in the double-height section of the lower level. In this carefully coordinated interior, every detail contributes to the overall effect. Perforated metal panels with color-changing LED backlighting add a dynamic element to the intimate lighting design, acoustical wall panels and microperforated wood ceilings enhance the acoustics and give the space its bold, sculptural form.
