Sam Houston State University Performing Arts Center

E&C provided mechanical, electrical and plumbing design services for a new 90,000 square foot building on the Sam Houston State University campus in Huntsville, Texas. The building has spaces for music, theatre and dance. It also includes a concert hall, recital hall, practice rooms, studios, dressing rooms, a scene shop, and dance choreography, as well as office space for faculty and staff.

Due to the 3 performance areas all within one building and the stringent sound criteria, the HVAC systems were challenging. We carefully placed mechanical rooms and coordinated design elements such as providing a cavity under the stage to serve as a return air duct. The building has met and exceeded expectation for acoustical performance. The Performing Arts building is also very energy efficient. Variable volume air systems paired with demand control ventilation and heat recovery units makes this building highly efficient for its type, as well as comfortable.