Wilson Butler Architects, an award-winning innovative architecture and interior design firm, today announced that ground has been broken on the new Performing Arts Center at Auburn University. Located at the southern end of campus, Auburn University’s new Performing Arts Center together with the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art will define the Cultural Arts District and southern gateway to campus. Designed to house functional spaces with superior acoustics and fully integrated technology, the new performing arts center will include a 1,200-seat main performance hall, an open lobby and a porch and lawn that will serve as an additional performance venue. Programming in the new performing arts center is set to include a wide range of high-quality artistic opportunities, from nationally touring Broadway productions to dance, orchestra and symphony performances, to student and faculty music and theater performances. The performing arts center will serve as a source of inspiration to the community of Auburn and an opportunity for artistic expression and learning in the arts at the highest levels.

“By providing a level of excellence in design and state of the art equipment this project provides stages that will elevate the talents of Auburn’s musicians, actors, and dancers.  By ensuring patrons are treated to the same design excellence, creating intimacy with the performance and opportunities to socially engage with other patrons and artists outside the performance venues; this project will elevate the appreciation for the arts in Auburn,” said Scott Butler, AIA, Director at Wilson Butler Architects. “We are thrilled with the level of enthusiasm and commitment to quality that the Auburn Community expects for this project and couldn’t be prouder of our design team’s efforts to fulfill their aspirations.”

Wilson Butler Architects is providing master planning, programming, architectural, and interior design services for the project.

Construction is expected to be completed in 2019.