A.C. Martin Partners of Sacramento has been chosen by SSU as the executive architect for the new Center for the Musical Arts projected to open in the Fall of 2002. A.C. Martin Partners was chosen from a group of 30 California-based architectural design firms. The final recommendation was made by a committee of SSU and Santa Rosa Symphony representatives headed by the managing director of the Center for Performing Arts, Floyd Ross.
"We couldn't be more fortunate to be working with the firm of A.C. Martin Partners. They will make a reality of what we at the campus and the Santa Rosa Symphony have only dreamed," says Bernie Goldstein, SSU provost and chief academic officer.
A.C. Martin Partners is an architectural and engineering firm that has extensive background in the design of facilities for higher education. The firm has designed many campus projects throughout the University of California and California State University systems, including Cal State Fullerton and Los Angeles.
According to Ross, SSU is required to hire a California-based architectural firm for the project. Firms were evaluated on their size, experience with other CSU projects, experience with other performing arts related projects, and experience as an executive architect working in partnership with a design consultant. William Rawn Associates of Boston has been named as the design consultant for this project, based on their experience in designing and building Tanglewood's Seiji Ozawa Hall. "We are thrilled to be collaborating with SSU and William Rawn Associates on what will surely be a landmark project for the community," says Tom Emme of A.C. Martin Partners.
SSU's $47 million music center will be modeled after Tanglewood's Seiji Ozawa Hall in Lenox, Massachusetts. SSU and the Santa Rosa Symphony are currently engaged in a major fund raising campaign for the Music Center which began with a $10 million gift donated by Telecom Valley entrepreneur Don Green and his wife Maureen. Plans for the music center include a 1,400-seat concert hall with additional lawn seating for 3,000 to 10,000 people, a 300-seat recital hall, recording facilities, practice rooms, offices and support facilities. The Music Center site is projected to also include vineyards surrounding the concert hall and a new north campus entrance.
