Millersville University Winter Visual Performing Arts Center

Millersville University Charles R. and Anita B. Winter Visual and Performing Arts Center (VPAC) currently serves as a creative hub for students, faculty and the surrounding community in music, art and theater to share a vibrant place for local, regional, national and international artists to connect with students in residencies, master classes and workshops. Formerly Lyte Auditorium, the Center underwent construction and renovations to expand in size in order to enhance its role in creative and performing arts for the campus and the public.

The client chose Heery to serve as the construction manager for the new construction of 55,700 SF and renovations to the existing 29,000 SF space. The VPAC construction project upgraded and enhanced the facility for educational activities, and expanded its use as a multipurpose center. The center features a brand new 450-seat, 1,980 SF Concert Hall. In addition to the Concert Hall, the VPAC features a recital hall, theater, classrooms, gallery, dance spaces, a music library, recording studio, faculty offices and more.

The new space holds music faculty studio/offices, practice rooms, and multimedia classrooms equipped with technology for Web-based curriculum, specialized performance spaces including a 300-seat theatre with proscenium, and a 150-seat recital hall. The laboratories provide technologically rich instructional venues in programming, music technology, lighting technology, multi-media production, recording and publishing. Multi-media capabilities are available in all performance areas along with the ability to broadcast these venues campus-wide or to other outside sources. High levels of adjustable acoustical treatment in the concert areas achieve correct sound conditions for a variety of configurations and performances.

The Visual and Performing Arts Center was completed concurrently with the University’s Library renovation, which was also managed by Heery. Major components of the renovation project include:

• New 450-seat concert hall
• Recital hall
• Theater
• Classroom space
• Gallery
• Dance space
• Music library
• Recording studios
• Faculty offices