Facility Focus
PHOTOS © PATRICK COULIE
AUDI TORIUMS AND PERFORMING ARTS
New Mexico Military Institute
Pearson Auditorium
H
AVING COMPLETED
three previous projects at the
New Mexico Military Institute
(NMMI) in Roswell, Van H. Gilbert Architect, PC (VHGA) was familiar with both the
campus and the culture of the institution.
The design team understood that Pearson
Auditorium, built in 1937, held a special
place in the history of the school, the nation's only state-supported military junior
college and high school.
The challenge was to maintain the historic nature of the auditorium while incorporating the latest technology and modern amenities. Among the deficits to be addressed:
heating system and water pipe leaks, spaces
not accessible per ADA standards, and any
75
building codes enacted after 1937. Audience
seating and theatrical lighting had been
added over the years, but the systems were
woefully inadequate. Further, any changes to
the 25,000-sq.-ft. building needed to comply
with New Mexico State Historic Guidelines.
To maintain and enhance the design
details of this historic building, the design
team reused, refurbished, and recreated
exterior detailing to seamlessly integrate
building upgrades of windows, doors, and
decorative elements into the building profi le. The interior design recreates a sense of
the time and place informed by ornate castiron seat frames, original light fi xtures,
and the military design. Historic building
details mask modern-day infrastructure
COLLEGE PLANNING & MANAGEMENT / MARCH 2013
additions to keep present-day technology from intruding into the performance
experience. Flooring, fabrics, and lighting selections meet today's standards for
energy efficiency and recycled content, yet
evoke the building's original era.
VHGA worked with theatre systems
consultant Bill Connor to outfit the theatre
with new lighting and theatre control
systems, and with acoustic consultant Stan
Roller to reshape the walls and ceiling and
introduce strategically placed, acoustically
absorbent sound panels.
Transformed, historic Pearson Hall is
now a multifunctional, modern performance venue enjoyed by both NMMI and
the City of Roswell.
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