Carleton College Arts Planning FAQs

What programs does Carleton expect to house in the former Northfield Middle School?

The Arts Planning Committee has recommended that the building house a significant number of multiple use classrooms; the Perlman Center for Learning and Teaching; centralized support for the use of digital assets; the Presentation, Events, and Production Support office (PEPS); a teaching museum; a dramatic theater; a cinema theater; a black box theater; dance studios; and the academic departments of art history and studio art, cinema and media studies, theater and dance, and English.

Will we retain all three parts of the Middle School building (1910 building, 1934 addition and 1954 addition)?

The decision about this will depend on advice we receive from our architect. But, it is certainly our intent to retain the exterior of the 1910 building. There is also good reason to try and retain the art deco façade of the 1934 auditorium. The aesthetic merit of the 1954 exterior is not obvious. We are still very unclear about the cost differences between renovation and new construction and we do not yet know what programmatically works within the existing structures. Again, we will learn much more once we start working closely with our architect.

When will the new facility open?

Four of our artists already have studio facilities in the building. In that sense it is already open.

There are two important factors that must be aligned before we begin construction. First, we need to develop a careful, complete and full design. For a project as complex as this, design can take two years or more. Second, we need to make sure that we have a fiscally responsible financing plan in place. The development of the facility is a priority in Carleton’s newly announced campaign – Breaking Barriers Creating Connections, but even a very successful campaign takes time to realize.

Where is the Music Department going?

We don't know for sure. A current difficulty the Music department faces is being spread out across three facilities – Old Music hall, The Concert Hall, and the Chapel. They have made a strong argument for an integrated space and we've asked the department to start thinking about this. A couple of possibilities might be between Johnson House and Strong house or near the current Concert Hall. The curricular vision underlying the initiative requires that Music be an active and integral partner. It will be important that we design spaces that invite connections between Music and the other arts programs.

When will the Music portion of the project be addressed?

This is an open question. There are siting and funding issues to be sorted out.

Does the College's conditional use permit require us to go back to the city or community much more?

The conditional use permit approved by the City of Northfield in September of 2005 requires a site plan review for all building additions to the site and for the College to obtain all the applicable permits, such as building permits. Use of any portion of the existing building, property, and building additions must be for college related purposes. The conditional use permit approved a footprint of the site that allows us to expand out to the property line and take the height of new space up to the height of the existing building.

To what extent do you expect the design of the building to take advantage of sustainable architecture?

The architectural firm that was chosen is LEED certified and committed to aggressively pursuing sustainable design wherever it makes sense. They have a great record in this area. Until we get further into the actual design process we will not really know specifically what energy efficiencies we will be able to take advantage of.

What is LEED?

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. LEED’s Green Building Rating System is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance “green” buildings. LEED promotes sustainability by certifying buildings according to their performance in five key areas: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.

How does a teaching museum differ from an art museum?

A teaching museum aims to make exhibitions and programs a significant part of the College’s curriculum. It seeks out collaborations and programmatic connections. The role that objects, particularly art objects, play in offering insights and new perspectives in how we think about important scientific, social, humanistic, and aesthetic issues will be featured.

What is a black box theater?

A smaller theater that seats 120-130 with fold up chairs that can be moved around, movable lighting, four blank walls, etc. - an experimental space.

Is phasing out Nourse part of the plan?

No - students make great use of Nourse.

Right now Sayles-Hill is one of the most collaborative spaces. Will there be a space like that in the new building?

There is a vision of an atrium space that will lend itself to “productive collisions” and collaboration. One of the most important questions for the architects is, how can their architecture accomplish our collaborative theme?

How will the existing spaces occupied by the arts and English departments be used once they have moved to their new facilities in the Middle School?

This has not yet been determined. It will require more conversation and planning.

How will the Middle School project affect the College Street corridor?

We don't really know yet. Certainly Carleton is interested in making sure that the new arts center feels well connected to the College but the development of this corridor needs to be done in a way that is very sensitive to the community that lives in the area.

How does this project relate to the 100 year campus plan?

Probably the most important insight from that plan was a warning that new building projects should not be sited in a way that impedes sight-lines from the campus out towards the Arb. This project doesn't interfere with that.