There’s a new $60 million performing arts center on the Villanova University campus, writes Matt Hickman for archpaper.com.

Work on The John and Joan Mullen Center for the Performing Arts finished earlier this year.

It’s closed now because of COVID-19.

The 5,000 square-foot cultural hub sits on a former Villanova University parking lot.

The Mullen Center has a 200-seat black-box theater. It has a 75-seat Performance Lab.

There are classrooms, rehearsal studios and support spaces on its upper floors.

There is a stately shared lobby with full height windows and custom chandeliers.

Its largest venue is the 400-seat proscenium theater.

Two architectural firms collaborated on the project.

The Philadelphia firm Voith and Mactavish Architects (VMA) were the Architects of record.

They designed the building’s three theater venues. 

Joining them on the projectwas New York-based Robert A.M. Stern Architects (RAMSA).

The new performance venue is part of a $65 million campus improvement campaign began in 2017.

“What a transformative m oment it is for an institution like Villanova to now have a flagship building that’s probably the best theater on the Main Line,” said Daniela Holt Voith, founding principal of VMA.  

Read more at archpaper.com about Villanova University’s new performing arts hub.