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RIT to open state-of-the-art performing arts center
The RIT Performing Arts Center opens with a ribbon cutting and inaugural performance on April 10. (Photo credit: Scott Hamilton/RIT)
The RIT Performing Arts Center opens with a ribbon cutting and inaugural performance on April 10. (Photo credit: Scott Hamilton/RIT)
RIT to open state-of-the-art performing arts center
Listen to this articleRochester Institute of Technology is set to open a new, state-of-the-art performing arts center on April 10.
The 747-seat, 50,388-square-foot venue will officially debut with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9:30 a.m., followed by an inaugural performance that evening showcasing student talent across theater, music and dance.
University leaders say the new facility represents more than an expansion of campus infrastructure — it is a strategic investment in interdisciplinary collaboration and the region’s broader performing arts ecosystem.
“This building will serve as a central stage in the already flourishing performing arts ecosystem, the largest of our performance venues on campus,” said Erica Haskell, director of RIT‘s School of Performing Arts. “We anticipate productions and concerts in the Performing Arts Center will be infused with cutting-edge technologies enabled through cross-college interdisciplinary collaborations.”
Designed by Los Angeles-based architect Michael Maltzan, with SWBR serving as architect of record, the facility reflects a contemporary approach to performance space design while supporting a wide range of artistic disciplines. Maltzan is expected to attend opening events.
The center includes two balconies, an outdoor amphitheater, a large rehearsal studio, costume and scene shops, and dedicated administrative and patron-facing spaces, including a box office and food service area. Its centerpiece will be a restored antique Barton Opus 234 theater pipe organ, adding a unique historical and acoustic dimension to the venue.
Beyond its physical footprint, the Performing Arts Center is expected to strengthen RIT’s ability to attract prospective students, faculty and visiting artists, while also contributing to the region’s cultural tourism and live performance economy, leaders there said.
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