Visual & Performing
Arts Center
60 W Cottage Ave
Millersville, PA 17551
Building Statistics Part 1:
Building
Location
Building Occupant
Occupancy Type
Size
Level
Construction Dates
Overall Cost
Delivery Method
Major Code
Zoning
Historical Requirement
Visual & Performing Arts Center
60 W Cottage Ave, Millersville, PA 17551
Millersville University
Non Separated Mixed Use A-1&B
80,059 SF
2 stories above grade and a partial basement
May, 2010 - March, 2012
$26 Million
Design - Bid - Build
IBC 2006 Series
R-1A Residential/ University District
Not apllicable
VPAC Site Location
Owner
Architect
MEP
CM
General Contractor
Structure
Theater Consultant
Acoustics, AV and Theatrical Lighting
Millersville University
Spillman Farmer Architects
Barton Associates, Inc.
Heery International, Inc.
Horst Construction
E.D. Pons and Associates, Inc.
Davis Crossfield Associates, Inc.
Acoustic Dimensions
Architecture
The Dr. Charles R. and Anita B. Winter Visual and Performing Arts Center is an addition and renovation to Lyte Auditorium at the Millersville University. Lied at the north side are a brand new two-story high concert hall (upper left) with 310 seat capacity and a 4,200 SF, two-story high rehearsal/recital hall (upper right). In between are the main entrance and lobby. Along the lobby, there are storages, an art gallery, a recording studio, theatre, scene shop, and central staircase to going to second floor. A state-of-the art digital piano laboratory, multipurpose dance hall, music library, classrooms, as well as departmental and faculty offices are located at the second floor. The existing building, hatched in Figure 1, includes the 665 seating capacity Lyte Auditorium, a proscenium stage house, classrooms, and music studios.
Building Enclosure
The existing south façade in Figure 2 consists of architectural CMU (8”x16”) stackbond pattern and Aluminum frame curtainwall with 1” Low-E insulated glass. To keep the entire building consistent, the new north façade (Figure 3) has the same Stackbond patterned bricks with two curtainwall systems. The entrance curtainwall shown in Figure 4 has three Aluminum doors with 1” Low-E glass lite and consists of three types of glass. Type A is 1” low E insulating tempered glass, type B is 1” low E insulating glass, and C is spandrel glazing, shown in Figure 3. The other curtainwall is type B of 29’-3 ¾” wide and 11’-3 ¾” high. Similarly, the west and east façade consists of stackbond patterned architectural CMU (8”x16”) and bricks. Aluminum frame with 1” Low-E insulated glass curtainwall and Aluminum doors with 1” Low-E glass lite can also be seen.
Figure 1. Addition vs. Existing 1st Floor Plan
Figure 2. South Elevation
Figure 3. North Elevation
Figure 4. North Entrance - Curtainwall System
Roofing
EPDM roofing runs over the entire roof and there are three skylight of plastic pyramid domes with 20%-25% rise and ¾” airspace.
Figure 5. Skylight Section
Sustainability
The building systems utilize variable speed pumping, air flow strategies and economizer capability to adjust air/water flow rates to meet load while saving energy. A full DDC building management system is equipped on VPAC to employ energy conserving control strategies.
Building Statistics Part 2:
Lighting
Primary lighting systems within this building are designed with either Fluorescents, CFLs or Metal-Halide lamps, only very limited areas are utilizing LED luminaries. Open downlights, troffers and pendant lights are heavily used in areas like scene shops, corridors, studios and private offices. For the two main semi open ceiling theatre rooms, besides proposed theatrical lighting systems, house lighting systems including pendant mound high-bay cylinders, along with line voltage spot track lights and wall washes are also installed. Those systems provide enough illumination levels for pre/post-show, intermission activities, and also address visual interests. All lights are controlled by occupancy sensors. Exterior lighting is provided by roadway poles, semi-recessed downlight at canopies and entries, and decorative wall mounted fixtures around the perimeter.
Studios, art galleries and offices are controlled through bi-level toggle switches and occupancy sensors. Scene shop areas and other open public areas are monitored using a low-voltage relay control system. Separate control rooms are located on the second floor behind each theatre room to program and control different scenes for performances. Large glazing located on the north side of the building provides ambient daylight for the entry vestibule and upper lobby areas, where photo sensors are installed to control fixtures within the daylight zone.
Electrical
A pad-mount transformer of 480Y/277 1500KVA with a minimum 5.25% impedance is located outside at the middle left of the building. It connects with a main distribution switchboard HSB of 277/480V, 2500A. Five smaller transformers, four at basement electrical room and one on the second floor are connected with the main distribution to power panel boards throughout the VPAC. Not far away from the outside main transformer is a diesel fired emergency generator which can produce 277/480V, 3PH. 4W+G, 150KW power. There are two types of feeder sizes, 120/208V and 277/480V, 3P, 4W. Conductors for site lighting circuits are mainly #8 AWG in 1”C. Emergency lighting circuit is #10 AWG 277V.
Mechanical
VPAC has total 9 Rooftop Air Handling Units (RTAHs) and 1 AHU at basement mechanical room. There are three highlight spaces in VPAC, the existing Lyte Auditorium, a new Concert Hall and Rehearsal/Recital Hall. The existing mechanical system in Lyte Auditorium was demolished completely and replaced by two new RTAHs. Each RTAH has 8,900 cfm capacity and serves half of the auditorium. RTAH-6 of 6,900 cfm capacity serves the 5,589 SF two-story high Concert Hall with ceiling mounted diffusers. 4,500cfm RTAH-7 is equipped to condition the 3,628 SF two-story high Rehearsal/Recital Hall. At basement, the 2,425 cfm AHU-1 serves all rooms and two 3753 MBH gas-fired boilers provide service hot water to the entire building on site. At first floor, 6,990 cfm RTAH-5B supplies air to miscellaneous spaces, such as box offices, green room and theatre support, and the 2,100 cfm RTAH-8 conditions scene shop and paint area around the Concert Hall and Rehearsal/Recital Hall. 5,170 cfm RTAH-2 serves existing practice rooms and studios near the old Auditorium. At second level, 7,860 cfm RTAH-4 and 9,695 cfm RTAH-5A work together to meet the needs of faculty offices, piano practice rooms and a music library. On the roof, except RTAHs, there are also two 125 ton packaged air cooled magnetic bearing chillers providing service chilled water in four-piping system.
Construction
In 2009, Millersville University decided to renovate and expand its old auditorium to an up-to-date performing arts center with educational capability. Designers of each discipline including theatrical lighting and acoustic consultant were hired. VPAC is a traditional design-bid-build. The general contractor is Horst Construction and construction manager is Heery International, Inc. Since it is a two-story building, the construction sequence simply stages vertically. Basement is first excavated and works all the way up. Starting in May, 2010 and completing in March, 2012, the construction takes 11 months and the VPAC opens in 7 months later, October 12, 2012.
Structural
The gravity system of building addition is a combination of steel joist and composite steel slab. The challenge of roof supporting system is to create a lightweight structure to span a distance of 61’-4”. To approach this goal, a series of 3’-8” deep steel joist (44LH13 SP-1) are designed to support the roof system under ultimate loading conditions. The floor supporting applies composite steel system with 4” and 6” thick concrete to create lightweight floors with remarkable criteria of deflection and vibration. Steel moment frame (W flange beam) is used as the lateral system to resist wind and seismic loads. The foundation is constructed of a series of 7’-6” x 1’-2” strip footings (WF76) and isolated F70A footings with steel piles to resist gravity load, compressive downward forces and tensile uplift along grid line.
Fire Protection
The fire protection system on VPAC confirms to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) requirements, Pennsylvania Construction Code and IBC 2006. Combined wet pipe sprinkler and standpipe system are installed throughout the space. All storages, equipment rooms, and mechanical rooms are marked as Ordinary Hazard Group I and stage houses are categorized as Ordinary Hazard Group II. Spark detector and extinguishing system are installed near every dust collector.
Transportation
A central staircase located at main Lobby provides access only to the second floor. An elevator across from the central stairs and another staircase nearby apportion visitor flows to upper floor and basement at building core. At south end, one staircase and elevator at left plus one stairs at right lead to both up and down. Except the central stairs, all staircases can be accessed from outside directly.
Telecommunications
There three telecommunication rooms, one at basement and the other two at first floor in VPAC building. All loudspeakers are connected to 4 channel AMPs which controlled by DSP Processors. Interior and exterior CCTV cameras, wireless and standard network outlets, as well as emergency phones are scattered in every corner.