Iowa Western Community College Performing Arts Center

CLIENT: Iowa Western Community College
LOCATION: Council Bluffs, Iowa
ARCHITECT: HDR Architecture

Lund-Ross constructed the new Iowa Western Performing Arts Center on the Iowa Western Community College (IWCC) campus. The center covers 45,000 square feet and totals a volume of 2 million cubic feet.

The Performing Arts Center has three levels and is a combination of curved, cast-in-place concrete walls and structural steel. The facility houses one of the largest stages in the U.S. and can seat an audience of 640. In addition to the concert hall, the Performing Arts Center houses two separate vocal and instrumental rehearsal halls, ceramics and painting studios, and Iowa Western faculty offices.

The configuration of the structure created many challenges for Lund-Ross. All of the building’s operational systems had to be incorporated into the superstructure with as much conduit in the concrete walls as rebar. This required intense coordination between the project’s subcontractors and Lund-Ross staff.

The Performing Arts Center was immediately touted as one of the top entertainment facilities in the region upon completion. The project was honored with an American Institute of Architects Design Excellence Award in 2001.