The Council of Independent Colleges: Historic Campus Architecture Project

Fine Arts Center

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Fine Arts Center (view from the southeast), Calvin College

Institution Name: Calvin College
Original/Historic Place Name: Fine Arts Center
Location on Campus: 3201 Burton SE
Date(s) of Construction:

1966	original construction Fyfe, William Beye Perkins + Will Architects

Designer: William Beye Fyfe, Perkins & Will Architects
Type of Place: Individual building
Style: Modern/post-WWII (Glossary)
Significance: architecture, education
Narrative: see below
References: see below

Materials:

Foundation: concrete

Walls: brick, common

Roof: low slope, wide eaves

Function:

1966-present (2006)	classrooms (and music practice rooms)
1966-present (2006)	auditorium

Narrative:
In this building, efficiency of form and function led to the location of the main performance venue in the center of classrooms and music practice rooms. This 1200 seat auditorium has no proscenium arch or flyloft and is focused on a magnificent pipe organ. The exterior form is horizontal expression of windows for offices and classrooms with a metal-clad sloped roof structure over the auditorium.

References: