IAIA Performing Arts and Fitness Center Dedication Ceremony

“Today we see the reemergence of the performing arts program at the new Multipurpose Performing Arts and Fitness Center.”

Yesterday afternoon, the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) kicked-off their annual open house with a dedication ceremony for the new Multipurpose Performing Arts and Fitness Center. Many special guests were in attendance including Grammy award-winning musician Robert Mirabal, Olympic Gold Medalist Billy Mills, and Mayor Javier Gonzales, along with many locally celebrated artists.

Following the ribbon cutting ceremony, the public toured the new facility. Excitement was in the air as special performances took place in the black box theater and students danced and performed for the public in the new studio spaces. Students, alumni, and IAIA supporters were in awe of the building and excited to be apart of such a momentous occasion for IAIA.

“Within this new facility, we will foster a community of artistic expression. We will create a community that produces makers of art transformation and resurgence, and we will pave the way for indigenous arts into the 21st century.”

The multipurpose center is 23,000 SF and provides space for two campus programs: Health/Fitness and Performing Arts. The Performing Arts component of the project includes a state-of-the-art black box theater, which provides a flexible space for various types of performances, and support spaces such as rehearsal studios, dance studios, dressing rooms, a green room and a costume shop. Offices for staff are also included in the new building. The Health/Fitness component of the project includes a gymnasium, a fitness room with weight and cardio equipment, and locker rooms. The facility also features the JoAnn and Bob Balzer Alumni Gallery, an exhibition dedicated to showcasing IAIA Alumni art.

The Multipurpose Performing Arts and Fitness Center was designed to LEED Silver standards and includes LED lighting throughout the facility as well as a photovoltaic array on the rooftop, comprised of 80 solar panels. A monitoring station is located inside the lobby to show visitors how much energy is being generated by the array in real-time. The combination of materials and colors ties the building into the existing campus aesthetic, while still distinguishing it as the Performing Arts and Fitness Center.

Related Team Members
Dyron Murphy
Oscar Tovar
Vanessa Garcia