University of Maine Farmington
Emery Community Arts Center
The Emery Community Arts Center at University of Maine, Farmington is a true collaborative arts space, incorporating both a wide variety of art forms and a combination of user groups from the school and the town.
The building thoughtfully encourages interdisciplinary cooperation in its overall design and also within each of its spaces. FDA worked hard to design a theatre space that would elegantly solve the many puzzles that small, multipurpose spaces present. Used mostly for dance, music, and drama, the theatre is equipped with a 1,600-square-foot wired gallery which creates an additional performance space. A dramatic interior corridor connects Emery with the existing Alumni Theater. The movable seating platforms make the theatre an ideal place for events and experimental performances. The new facility provides much-needed lobby space and handicap accessibility for the adjacent Alumni Theater. The Emery Center also includes an art gallery for 3D and traditional media, and a wired gallery for film, audio, and other digital media.
The building distinguishes itself on campus with the striking combination of contemporary design and beautifully-rendered references to local building materials and techniques.