Newel + Jean Daines Concert Hall

• TEAM

  ARCHITECTURAL TEAM | John Sparano, Anne Mooney, Seth Striefel, Nate King, Philip Dimick

  CONTRACTOR | Gramoll Construction

  PHOTOGRAPHY | Alan Blakely, Jeremy Bittermann, Sparano + Mooney Architecture

  ACOUSTIC | Newson Brown Acoustics

  ELECTRICAL | Spectrum Engineers

  LIGHTING | Spectrum Engineers

  MECHANICAL | VBFA

  STRUCTRAL | Calder Richards Consulting Engineers

  THEATER | Auerbach Pollock Friedlander

• RECOGNITION

  2017 | "Classy Renovation: USU Hall Reopens at 50th Anniversary Gala," by Doug Fox, Utah Construction + Design, November 2017

  2017 | "Utah State University Gives an Extreme Makeover to its Main Concert Hall," The Salt Lake Tribune, October 2017

  2017 | "Heart of the Arts: USU to Unveil Renovated Chase Fine Arts Center," The Herald Journal, October 2017

The Newel and Jean Daines Concert Hall project for Utah State University includes the complete renovation of the former Kent Concert Hall to create a new, state-of-the-art space for orchestra, band and choral programs. The renovation includes a new acoustical shell; acoustically-reconfigured walls and finishes; and upgraded theatrical, audio and lighting equipment to enhance the acoustic performance of the venue for both performers and audiences.  

The design allows for over 1,700 new theater audience seats and improvements to building systems, including acoustical and HVAC, to decrease ambient noise levels. The scope included the addition of a new fire sprinkler system, structural modifications to the ceiling to improve seismic stability and to enhance the theater space and architectural form, new catwalks and tension grid, dressing room suites and improved accessibility to the concert hall from the lobby and from the hall to the stage. The new concert hall serves audiences throughout the region with world-class music and programming in a newly-renovated and state-of-the-art cultural facility.

This high-performance building is located within the Utah State University campus context and the process began with a programming and needs assessment phase. This phase also included a public outreach effort involving students, faculty and staff, patrons, community partners and University leadership. Sparano + Mooney Architecture provided cost estimating services throughout the project and partnered with the Caine College of the Arts in their fundraising and development efforts.