A catalyst for the arts and local economy, the Nashua Performing Arts Center was constructed on an urban compact site, with zero side setbacks between two existing buildings. The 45,000 sf facility includes a multipurpose theater with seating for 750, with a retractable portion of seating that allows for a standing-room floor, and capacity expansion to 1,000.
As an infill construction project, and to accommodate required structural spans and bay spacing, creative foundation and superstructure approaches were deployed, including custom steel plate girders and retrofit of existing foundation walls to eliminate the need for complicated excavation support along adjacent streets. HVAC systems for the theater included heat-recovery heat pump air handling systems with demand-control ventilation and low velocity air delivery, enabling energy efficiency, occupant comfort, and theater-appropriate acoustics. HVAC systems for back-of-house and cellular spaces included variable refrigerant flow heat pump systems and dedicated outside air energy recovery ventilation. Lighting design included contemporary fixture selections and layouts to complement the architecture, with a focus on lighting operational flexibility for the multipurpose theatre.
Recognition
AIA NH, Excellence in Architectural Design Citation Award
Services
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Metrics
45,000 sf
750 Seats
Architect
ICON Architecture
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