A Total College Experience

The Arts Center at Iowa Western Community College reflects an important shift away from a technical school approach to community college education toward a “total college” experience that includes fine arts, athletics and extracurricular activities. The Arts Center is designed to meet the unique performance, rehearsal, studio and classroom needs of fine arts programs offered on the growing campus.

Notable design features include:

• A multi-purpose proscenium stage and black box theater provide spaces for theatre and music program performances, as well as community events.
• A centrally-located lobby contains a grand stair that moves patrons down to the main stage and black box level.
• Functional elements (mechanical, electrical, storage, restrooms and scene shop) tucked under the entry plaza allow occupied spaces access to primary views.
• Corridors that can be transformed into lobbies, roofs that can become future floors and an exterior plaza that forms the outline for an amphitheater bowl reflect an emphasis on future expansion.
• New recording studio, band room and graphic design classrooms (added to the west side of the building) compliment the original design intent while meeting the functional demands of the growing college.