SAPINSLEY PERFORMANCE HALL
RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE,
PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND

Dedicated in September 2000, the John Nazarian Performing Arts Center at Rhode Island College is a 45,000 square foot addition to the existing Roberts Hall performing arts building. The addition includes classrooms, faculty offices, music practice rooms, a large rehearsal room, a black box theater, and a performance hall.

The Lila and John Sapinsley Performance Hall is a 400-seat space designed for music, drama, and dance performances. The design of the performance hall recalls New England mill construction with exposed, load-bearing, sandblasted concrete block, exposed steel trusses, and wood decking. Lighting, catwalks, HVAC ductwork, and suspended acoustical reflectors are exposed in the space. Contrasting the bold structural and mechanical elements are mahogany panels, grilles, and handrails.

Very low background sound in the space is achieved by a remote mechanical room, duct sound attenuators, acoustically lined duct, and low ductwork and outlet discharge air velocities.

The sound system is a three channel design with central loudspeaker cluster and left/right loudspeakers on either side of the proscenium. Supplemental loudspeakers serve the loge area. The system provides full recording capabilities.

The music wing and performance hall give the performing arts department excellent facilities and spaces to support Rhode Island College’s high caliber programs.