The new performing arts center for Holy Cross is rooted in the campus setting and traditions; reaches out to draw in a broad cross-section of the college community; and reaches up, acknowledging a relationship to the moral, ethical and spiritual foundations that help to give meaning to the efforts taking place within the center. The PAC occupies a critical site on campus, mediating between the established lower campus and the upper campus and establishing a more formal entry to the upper campus. The interior steps up the hill, affording easy access at multiple levels, and includes a 400-seat concert hall and a 200-seat flexible tech theater which share their associated support spaces —rehearsal and seminar rooms, dressing rooms, green room, innovation lab, café, and new media/rehearsal studio— creating an innovative, transparent environment for the arts to be explored and presented. The red sandstone clad exterior draws on campus traditions of individual masonry buildings meeting the sky and is distinguished by a green roof wrapping an arts garden and an “arts scrim” showcasing creative works.

EJA’s design services were provided as part of an invited competition.