Haverford College Center for Visual Culture, Arts, Media

Photography (c) Lara Swimmer

Adaptive reuse of the 19,800 square foot Ryan Gymnasium, constructed in 1900, into an all-encompassing arts facility. The program for the project includes a multi-media/ screening/ performance space, film, media and object study classrooms, seminar rooms, production facilities, white rooms, exhibit spaces, lounges, faculty offices and other ancillary spaces. The objective for the reuse of the historic building was to carefully place some of the program elements into the structure while still providing large open spaces with ample daylight. Keast & Hood met the project’s goals with a structural design allowing for a large interior addition. The cube-like structure houses larger multi-media/ screening/ performance space of 140 to 150 seats. The original elevated track structure was retained and incorporated into the design to serve as a circulation route and access to the cube addition.