Niemeyer Center for the Arts
Clackamas Community College
Set amid the beautifully landscaped and wooded campus, the Niemeyer Center is a building of timeless materials and quality.
Size: 46,000 sf
Location: Oregon City, OR
Awards:
2006, AIA Northwest and Pacific, Merit Award
2005, AIA Portland, Honor Award
The linear copper-clad volume containing the music facilities is a striking backdrop to the tall trees of the existing park setting along the north side of campus. A dramatic two-story glass-enclosed lobby opens to a new forecourt plaza connecting the heart of campus to the larger community.
The 46,000 sf multi-purpose facility is a one-of-a-kind teaching and performance venue in Oregon. It features flexible seating and acoustic configurations that allow the three main performance spaces to accommodate orchestral music, recitals, drama, opera, lectures and presentations.
The studio theater can accommodate an audience of 250 for a wide variety of performances. Theatrical program spaces include a scene shop, dressing rooms, a green room and faculty offices.
Music program spaces consist of vocal and instrumental rehearsal rooms, individual and teaching studios, a recording studio, classrooms and faculty offices.
An art gallery off the main lobby provides space for local artists and students to display their work.
The architectural character is derived from the emotive qualities of a raw industrial aesthetic. Views into the theatre, art gallery, rehearsal and studio spaces reveal the process of making and learning; catwalks extend from the theatre into the lobby and instructional spaces to link program elements; and the steel armature of the plaza holds theatrical lighting, signage and a woven wire marquee illuminated at night.
