PROJECT  Clark University Center for Media Arts, Computing, and Design

ARCHITECT  Ayers Saint Gross

LOCATION  Worcester, Massachusetts, US​

PROJECT COMPLETION DATE  8/28/2023

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM  Joel Fidler, Glenn Neighbors, Candice Rabovsky, Marie McKenna, Tim Shook, Karen Bastidas, Michelle Moseley, Mindy Dunn, Jason Castillo, and Allison Wilson
OWNER/CLIENT  Clark University
CONTRACTOR/CONSTRUCTION MANAGER  Shawmut Design and Construction
PHOTOGRAPHER  Kroo Photography
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Ayers Saint Gross
CIVIL ENGINEER Nitsch Engineering, Inc.
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER  Odeh Engineers, Inc.
MECHANICAL ENGINEER  Bard, Rao + Athanas Consulting Engineers LLC
ELECTRICAL ENGINEER  Bard, Rao + Athanas Consulting Engineers LLC
CONSULTANT  Cerami & Associates, Inc. Specialty: Acoustic and Audiovisual Designer / Alexis Kurtz (AKurtz@ceramiassociates.com)
CONSULTANT  The Lighting Practice, Inc. Specialty: Lighting Designer / The Lighting Practice: Ryan Conover (rconover@thelightingpractice.com)
CONSULTANT  Jensen Hughes, Inc. Specialty: Code Consultant / Joe Watson (jwatson@jensenhughes.com)
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SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT  
The Center for Media Arts, Computing, and Design is a new academic facility at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. Envisioned as a hub for interdisciplinary learning and research, the building unites the Becker School of Design & Technology with the departments of Computer Science and Visual and Performing Arts to create an environment focused on immersive technology. The interdisciplinary facility is open to all members of the Clark community.

The Becker School of Design and Technology is one of the leading video game design schools in the country, and its acquisition by Clark created the need for a new building to quickly capture excitement for the relaunch of the program.

Located at the edge of campus, the 70,000 GSF, five-story facility is transparent and inclusive, providing views to a future quadrangle and residential street. Spaces include a double-height common space with a connecting stair that serves as a focal point upon entering the building. The center houses a video game library, makerspace, robotics lab, AR/VR lab, virtual production lab, video production lab, screening room, music/audio production labs, and active-learning and flexible classrooms. A technology wall on the first floor serves as a gallery for student work.

JURY COMMENTS (If applicable)

MEDIA FOR DOWNLOAD
Project PDF

IMAGES (Captions and Photographer Credit)
1. East plaza offering views into the collaboration and classroom spaces. Photo Credit: 2024 Kroo Photography
2. West plaza offering views into the lobby and collaboration spaces. Photo Credit: 2024 Kroo Photography
3. Lobby and tiered collaboration space. Photo Credit: 2024 Kroo Photography
4. Entry plaza featuring makerspace and digital media gallery. Photo Credit: 2024 Kroo Photography
5. East plaza entrance. Photo Credit: 2024 Kroo Photography
6. Second floor collaboration space. Photo Credit: 2024 Kroo Photography
7. Drawing classroom. Photo Credit: 2024 Kroo Photography
8. Video game library. Photo Credit: 2024 Kroo Photography