Groton Hill Music Center

Contextual Resonance: A 120,000 sf Music Center, comprised of multiple world class concert performance venues and a renowned Community Music School, is placed within 110 acres of agrarian fields. Referencing its regional farms the whole is intimately scaled via the assembly of 1) a timber “orchard” like structure containing a 1400-student community music school– with its repeat module sized to that of the intimate teaching spaces within; 2) Three lyrically curvaceous stainless steel clad “barn” volumes supporting the needs, and speaking to the nature of a 1000-seat Concert Hall (which opens in the rear to a 1500-seat lawn audience), a 300-seat Recital Hall, and a Multipurpose Rehearsal/Reception/Lobby/Performance Space; and 3) a field-stone base volume containing administration, support, cafe and kitchen services.

The composition of timber, red painted vertical board walls, metal siding, and field stone walls -- perforated for ample views to the beauty of the surrounding natural and protected rural landscape -- flavors the activities of the Center with its unique spirit of place, Building Community: The linear organization of circulation through the “orchard like Allée”, is surrounded by teaching, rehearsal, café, and “hang-out” lobby spaces, and framed by the major performance spaces at either end. Such open integration serves to maximize the rubbing of shoulders between professionals, students, teachers and patrons as they grow together into an intimate community anchored by a common love for music.

Its rural setting helps to serve the needs of a broad regional community, while its role as a world-class destination draws audiences and musicians from two major and well established urban cultural centers. Innovative and Sustainable Design of Performance Spaces: As an industry first, the concert venues are composed of exposed curved structural laminated timber, infilled between with thick T&G decking for walls and ceilings, all backed by hidden 6” to 10” of spray concrete for acoustic mass. The resultant “elegantly rustic” performance halls fully integrate structure, finish, acoustic diffusion/reverberation, and sustainability goals -- lending surrounding warmth to an intimate audience embrace of on-stage performers.