USU FINE ARTS COMPLEX MASTER PLAN

• TEAM

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

  THEATER FACILITIES PLANNING + DESIGN | Auerbach Pollock Friedlander

  ACOUSTICAL DESIGN | Newson Brown Acoustics

  MUSEUM EXPERT | Walt Crimm Associates

  STRUCTURAL | Calder Richards

  CIVIL | Cache Landmark

  MECHANICAL + PLUMBING | VBFA (Resolut Group)

  ELECTRICAL | Spectrum

  LIGHTING DESIGN | Auerbach Glasow French

  LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT | Landmark Design

  COST ESTIMATOR | Capstone

The Caine College of the Arts (CCA) and its Fine Arts Complex (FAC) at Utah State University originally comprised three buildings from different eras, later joined into a single 283,360 SF complex. Uniting diverse creative disciplines, the CCA fosters experimentation, exploration, and cross-disciplinary inspiration. Our master planning effort examined how to thoughtfully renovate and expand the FAC to honor its history while enhancing the experience of students, faculty, staff, and the broader community, reinforcing its role as a central arts hub on campus.

The FAC is surrounded by significant campus architecture, including the original Kent Concert Hall (1960s by Burtch Beal), the 1982 studio and art museum addition by Edward Larrabee Barnes, and the recently completed Caine Performance Hall by Sasaki. Our work focused on weaving these distinct elements into a cohesive whole, strengthening the presence of the arts on campus. Grounded in the context of a Land Grant institution, the planning process drew from the site’s architectural legacy to create an immersive environment that celebrates art and culture in all forms.

Sparano + Mooney Architecture conducted extensive site analyses and a robust stakeholder engagement process to inform the final recommendations. This work resulted in the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art Renovation + Addition; the transformation of Kent Concert Hall into the Newel + Jean Daines Concert Hall; renovations to the Tippetts and Eccles Galleries; the Sid Perkes Theatrical Design Complex supporting the Morgan Theatre; and the new Wanlass Center for Art Education + Research, together creating an inviting and inspirational creative destination for the USU campus and broader community.