Project

Good just got great at Goodhart Hall

Theater transformation at Bryn Mawr College worthy of a standing ovation

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Goodhart Hall and Hepburn Teaching Theater

Goodhart Hall and Hepburn Teaching Theater

Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania

Designed in the Gothic Revival style in 1928 by Mellor, Meigs and Howe, Goodhart Hall served as Bryn Mawr College’s place of assembly. As the college evolved, the beautiful building could no longer meet the needs of a modern collegiate-level theater program. Poor sightlines and acoustics, outdated building systems, and make-shift AV systems hampered the building’s function and use. Finegold Alexander strategically solved these issues in the main auditorium and surgically inserted a new teaching theater and workshop into the building complex. The end result achieves the school’s program director’s vision of “a theater of 100 theaters."

(Photo credit: Barry Halkin, Halkin|Mason Photography)

Size
21,400 SF
Scope
Addition, Renovation, Historic Preservation
Program
Auditorium, Teaching Theater, Dressing Rooms, Scene Workshop, Music Practice Rooms
Sustainability
Awards
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Project EUI
Historic entrance to Goodhart Hall with detailed, pointed stone arches and carved wooden doors.
Modern stone and glass addition to the back of Goodhart Hall with students walking by.
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“Marjorie Walter Goodhart Hall retains all of its original architectural majesty while now serving the needs of the campus community in ways that far exceed our highest expectations.”
Glenn R. Smith, Director, Facilities Services

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View from addition to the stage and the historic theater hall in the background.
Glass entrance to the Hepburn Teaching Theatre, with natural light reflecting of the polished floor and frosted glass.
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Careful planning and design coordination was required to shore up and underpin the large 30’ wide opening in the existing backstage wall to create a connection between the existing Auditorium to the new Teaching Theater, thus unifying the building complex.

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View onto the stage in Goodhart Hall, framed by large pointed stone arches, catwalks, and lighting rigs.
Risers to the left of interior shot of the Hepburn Teaching Theater with two students in the background near the windows.
New materials meets existing stone in hallway corridor and staircase.
View of Hepburn Teaching Theater addition to Goodhart Hall from the exterior.
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"Finegold Alexander’s promise not to be intimidated by the building proved to be a turning point in the development of a creative approach to satisfactorily accomplishing all of the project, it is as if the College has a completely new building and there is a heightened excitement level over all the possibilities that now exist.”
Glenn R. Smith, Director, Facilities Services

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Goodhart Hall and Hepburn Teaching Theater
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