TROY, N.Y.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute opened the $200 million Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center in October of 2008 in Troy, N.Y. The 220,000-sf technology-rich facility includes a 1,200-seat concert hall, a 400-seat theater, artist studios and rehearsal spaces, and a 360-degree panoramic screen. The center supports collaborative creation and research in art and technology, including visualization, animation, and acoustics. Background noise has been minimized in the building, which features a nearly silent heating and cooling system. The seven-story facility was designed by Nicholas Grimshaw & Partners of London and was built to meet LEED sustainable design criteria. The project broke ground in 2003.