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Golden Gate Xpress

The Student News Site of San Francisco State University

Golden Gate Xpress

The Student News Site of San Francisco State University

Golden Gate Xpress

Architect unveils model for new performing arts center

Michael Maltzan, founder and principal of Michael Maltzan Architecture, unveils the designs for the Mashouf Performing Arts Center at SF State on Thursday, Feb. 24th. The new 242,150 square foot state-of-the-art facility will be built at the corner of Lake Merced and Font Boulevards. Henry Nguyen / staff photographer

Plans for the new creative arts building at SF State were unveiled today in the first public showcase of the University’s vision.

Michael Maltzan, principal architect of the project, appeared as a giant next to a miniature model of the new building as he explained its main features and functions.

“It’s a microcosm of the culture that exists on campus,” Maltzan said.  “This college is one of the most dynamic places I’ve ever been.  I tried to imagine a form that would speak to that.”

Maltzan said that his goal was to design a building that would further connect the various disciplines within the College of Creative Arts.

The new building, which has been named the Mashouf Performing Arts Center, will sit at the west end of campus, at the corner of Font and Lake Merced Boulevard.

From a bird’s-eye-view, the building sprawls out in a narrow triangle.  On the face, a curvy hallway steadily inclines from one end to the other.  The hallway is walled with glass, opening the inside of the white structure to outside viewers.  A large block protrudes from the top.

That block will house a 1200-seat auditorium with balconies that mimic an opera theater.  Also housed within the building are a 350-seat music recital theater and a 450-seat theater.

The 260,000 square foot project will cost $260 million, and Maltzan predicts completion will take a little over a decade.  Currently softball fields, basketball courts and tennis courts occupy the area.

The new building is almost 100,000 square feet bigger than the current creative arts building, which will be demolished and replaced with new academic buildings, Associate Vice President for Capital Planning Design and Construction, Simon Lam said.

“I think it’s the most incredible vision for art’s education unfolding in the U.S. right now,” said Dean of the College of Creative Arts, Kurt Daw.  “(Maltzan) delivered beyond our wildest expectations.”

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  • A

    AnonymousMar 1, 2011 at 7:07 pm

    Goodman: Shut-up. Really, just shut the hell up. You hate the university, don’t you? You want to attack them at every little thing you don’t like, and really, a lot of people don’t like you, including those in Parkmerced. Oh wait… you don’t live there anymore!

    Reply
    • L

      LukeMar 2, 2011 at 3:13 pm

      Actually Anonymous, most people I’ve talked to on campus seem to be of the same mindset as Arron.

      They’re cutting everything from classes, to teachers, to entire schools here at State. And now they want to build this? give me a break.

      I can think of 100 other things that could be better served here at state with 260 Million dollars, all while the EXISTING performing art center functions just fine.

      Reply
      • A

        Aaron WilliamsMar 8, 2011 at 11:59 pm

        Hey Luke,

        Actually the money set to build this is different from the CSU budget. The school just doesn’t have one pot of money that it chooses to spend. Different committees and panels dictate various parts of the school. Furthermore, the school can petition for grants to aid parts of the school.

        For example, The City of San Francisco awarded SF State $25,000 to focus on greening our campus. Now, that money could toward something else, but that’s not why the money was awarded.

        Therefore, the money for the Mashouf center came from a different pot. Make sense?

        Reply
        • B

          BrutusMar 9, 2011 at 9:49 am

          An informed person? In MY Xpress comments section? NOT ALLOWED

          Reply
  • A

    Aaron GoodmanFeb 27, 2011 at 10:34 pm

    $260 million, after they spent how much on Stonestown and UPS sites…

    students will be paying WELL into the 41st century for these plans…

    Reply
  • A

    Aaron GoodmanFeb 27, 2011 at 10:31 pm

    another “mega-development” impact on Parkmerced….

    SFSU-CSU already has a creative arts center that could be rebuilt,

    what about the prior space loss-of-use to tenants and students of the prior recreation center, open-space, basketball, handball, tennis courts, all left to rot since SFSU_CSU bought them prior. They have abused the community and now want to plop a new cineplex on the site.

    How much more can students pay, and staff get cut, while this gets funded…

    Students should place this building on the existing parking garage… or after they demolish it…

    Reply
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Architect unveils model for new performing arts center