Education K-12  -  WESLEYAN SCHOOL FINE ARTS BUILDING

Given the Arts Building's close proximity to the baseball stadium, the idea of the Camden Yard effect at the Baltimore Orioles baseball stadium was used to project a similar sense of intimacy for Wesleyan's Gaebelein Field. The exterior clock on the rear of the building was one design element used to accomplish this effect. To display the arts in its exterior façade, the Arts Building features embedded cast stone tablets with representations of the visual and performing arts. The interior of the Arts Building serves as a place to both create and display art. The Lower Gallery (entrance) of the Arts Building features 28-foot tall pyramids, creative ceiling canopies and art display panels painted in whimsical colors. A focal point upon entry, the gold concrete cross and imported mosaic tile backsplash give the space added artistic flair. The first floor of the building houses the two-story band and chorus rooms. These rooms are equipped with top-of-the-line sound diffusion technologies, including Decoustics wall and ceiling panels. Music students also have the opportunity to practice in one of the building's thirteen sound-proof practice rooms. To maintain and clean instruments, the building includes two instrument repair rooms with full size cleaning tubs. Bringing all of the musical components together, the lower level features a state-of-the-art MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) lab capable of importing sound from all music classrooms and practice rooms for editing and recording. The upper levels of the building include spacious painting, drawing and sculpting studios. These rooms are equipped with fume exhaust arms, paint booths, and electric kilns. To stay on the leading edge of digital media, the Arts Building also features an Art Technology Classroom and Resource Library. As unique as the Arts Building itself, the Blackbox Theater provides moveable seating and theater-in-the-round opportunities with a maximum audience of about 125. The “green room” area adjacent to the theater houses the Boy's and Girl's Dressing Rooms as well as a Props Storage Room.