The design for the proposed University of Miami Theatre Arts Building addresses both the programmatic needs of the school and its place among the historic structures influenced by Mid-Century Modern vocabulary found throughout this sector of the UM campus.

The new Theatre Arts Building is sited next to the historic Pentland Building, designed by Marion Isadore Manley, FAIA. She was the second woman architect licensed to practice architecture in the State of Florida and the 13th female member of the American Institute of Architects at the time. Ms. Manley was part of the design team that developed the UM Campus Master Plan and collaborated on the design of the UM Ring Theater Building.

The new Theatre Arts Building celebrates the historic Pentland Building neighbor by placing the signature part of the building program (The Black Box Theatre) at the west end of the axial orientation of the historic structure, acting as an anchor to the new dialogue between old and new.

The creation of a new “courtyard” that both unites and separates the two structures serves as a distinction mandated by Federal Guidelines for the design of new buildings next to, or additions to historic structures, while the balance of the program for the Theatre Arts Building is proposed on a north/south axis, another distinction between old and new.

The Theatre Arts Building design solution draws elements from the historic Pentland Building in subtle yet visible ways, while making sure that the building’s historic main facades are respected by not placing any structures in front of them, creating a seamless connection between new and historic.

The new Theatre Arts Building will become a welcomed contributor to the fabric of important buildings within the University of Miami Campus, taking its place among the collection of viable, historic and modern structures in the City of Coral Gables, Florida.