Kirkwood Performing Arts Center
Kirkwood Performing Arts Center
Designing an engine for civic expression
Through public engagement, a performance venue can be much more than a backdrop for programing. The new 40,000-square-foot Kirkwood Center sits in the heart of a growing arts district. Jacobs designed the facility to be a cultural anchor for the neighborhood and to bring increased visibility to the performing arts. Our client envisioned the building as an instrument for civic expression. We saw an opportunity for architecture to encourage creativity and shared experience.
Positioning culture, craft and community
The center’s design encourages visual engagement and expanded programming. The bold concrete form, veiled in glass, makes a strong statement while offering some transparency. The public can glimpse the arts in progress. We designed two performance spaces: a 500-seat theater and a 200-seat studio. Our design objective was to give our client the maximum flexibility possible, a facility that can accommodate any event, from touring productions to grassroots community programming.
Artistic statement at street level
Every design element is in service of artistic intent and neighborhood connection. From the acoustic strategy to establishing a civic scale, we were cognizant of the center’s potential for increased community engagement. Access to the public realm often begins at street level. Through terraced massing and a luminous glass atrium, the center becomes a part of the rhythm of the plaza. Whether formal or informal, this street-level “choreography” is an integral part of welcoming audiences, drawing passersby and supporting moments of gathering before and after the performance.
THREE KEY FEATURES
- Community engagement
- Material transparency
- Pedestrian-scale design
Designing an Engine for Civic Expression
Through public engagement, a performance venue can be much more than a backdrop for programing. The new 40,000-square-foot Kirkwood Center sits in the heart of a growing arts district. Jacobs designed the facility to be a cultural anchor for the neighborhood and to bring increased visibility to the performing arts. Our client envisioned the building as an instrument for civic expression. We saw an opportunity for architecture to encourage creativity and shared experience.
Positioning Culture, Craft and Community
The center’s design encourages visual engagement and expanded programming. The bold concrete form, veiled in glass, makes a strong statement while offering some transparency. The public can glimpse the arts in progress. We designed two performance spaces: a 500-seat theater and a 200-seat studio. Our design objective was to give our client the maximum flexibility possible, a facility that can accommodate any event, from touring productions to grassroots community programming.
Artistic Statement at Street Level
Every design element is in service of artistic intent and neighborhood connection. From the acoustic strategy to establishing a civic scale, we were cognizant of the center’s potential for increased community engagement. Access to the public realm often begins at street level. Through terraced massing and a luminous glass atrium, the center becomes a part of the rhythm of the plaza. Whether formal or informal, this street-level “choreography” is an integral part of welcoming audiences, drawing passersby, and supporting moments of gathering before and after the performance.
THREE KEY FEATURES
- Community engagement
- Material transparency
- Pedestrian-scale design
Cities & Places: Buildings
© Jacobs 2025