Duffy Arts Center - Malvern Preparatory School - Malvern, Pennsylvania

Malvern Prep recently completed construction of an impressive proscenium theater in a multi-disciplinary art center for music, 2D and 3D art, photography, and theater. They succeeded in building a handsome facility of regional significance. The 33,000 square foot arts center opened in March, 2008.

Facilities include:

• A 600-seat auditorium with balcony and side balconies.
• Proscenium stage with 33'-8" high trim, 30 single-purchase counterweight rigging sets, house curtain with the Malvern Preparatory School crest, masking draperies, scrim and cyclorama, 288 dimmers, full stage lighting "house plot", three catwalks, control room, orchestra pit and flexible orchestra pit filler platforms, resilient stage floor for dance and ballet, and backstage support facilities.
• Scene shop, which doubles as a shop for teaching sculpture.

The Catwalks are noteworthy because coordination succeeded here. The catwalks integrate into the HVAC system to accommodate the large ducts that provide large volumes of slow-moving silent air without obstructing work on the catwalks. The catwalks integrate visually into the architecture of the room. The catwalks integrate with the acoustical premise of the room, which is to achieve large air volume and early reflections. The catwalks integrate into the stage lighting system to provide diverse and optimum lighting angles in an easy and safe work environment. The catwalks form an efficient "floor" of the building that has sensible access and egress, and no stairs, ladders or steps, and is brightly lit. The clean, safe, and open catwalk level can be used for electrical department jobs such as fixture maintenance, cable sorting, and gel cutting. In this very frugal building an efficient catwalk system was achieved by applying a great deal of foresight and experience by the entire design team. Catwalk worklights are shielded, like index striplights, and always point away from the audience so they are never seen from below.

Architect: Voith and MacTavish
Acoustician: Marshall KMK - Jerry Marshall and Tom Knauss