Montco Cultural Center Theater

WSDG submitted a plan to reconfigure three smaller lecture halls into the newly imagined 563-seat theater. The theater was conceived as a multi-purpose venue capable of facilitating live theatrical performances and concerts, classes, and screenings of films and educational videos.

The audio recording and live sound elements of the theater are part of an integrated audio system that allows for maximum versatility of the space. The system is distributed using a Dante network that can all be managed from an upgraded DigiCo console in the FOH position.

For live sound, WSDG specified an L’Acoustics loudspeaker system for maximum audio fidelity and resolution. The system is also linked with the school’s existing WSDG-designed recording studio and mixing suite enabling recording and live streaming of all performances as well as the use of the main stage as a live room for recording projects.

For lighting and video, WSDG specified two projectors for film screening and backdrop purposes. The theater has an entirely new infrastructure for theatrical lighting and special effects that can be fully controlled from FOH via an ETC console. The video streaming system utilizes PTC 4K High Resolution cameras distributed throughout the space that can be utilized both for recording and webcasting. All of these are automated and controlled via a Crestron system.

For lighting and video, WSDG specified two projectors for film screening and backdrop purposes. The theater has an entirely new infrastructure for theatrical lighting and special effects that can be fully controlled from FOH via an ETC console. The video streaming system utilizes PTC 4K High Resolution cameras distributed throughout the space that can be utilized both for recording and webcasting. All of these are automated and controlled via a Crestron system.

The integration with the existing recording infrastructure was a top priority for this project and required extensive coordination between WSDG, Spillman Farmer Architects, and system installer Sean Lubitsky of Applied Video. It was also very important to preserve the existing structure of the building where feasible for budgetary reasons while still making space for the additions and an improved HVAC system to account for the added heat load of the new technology.

An added challenge was that the construction of the theater was launched just as the COVID-19 pandemic ground everything in the world to a halt. Given that it was a massive, interdisciplinary undertaking, there were concerns that the project would be delayed indefinitely.

Fortunately, WSDG has extensive experience in remote design collaboration and launched a company-wide effort to generate detailed plans for every facet of the project. Once these were completed and approved, the demolition, renovation, and reconstruction of the theater was officially launched in late 2020.

The Montco Cultural Center represents an incredible achievement for Montgomery County Community College in terms of elevating the arts and culture of the school through investing in A/V infrastructure. Despite not being a private university with a large budget, MCCC made it a priority to provide a world-class performance theater for its students and the surrounding community, and succeeded wildly in its goals due to smart planning and putting together a skilled team of professionals to design and build the theater.

The assembled team – Spillman Farmer Architects, WSDG, Barbizon Lighting Company, and Applied Video – worked together to realize this incredible vision and through their coordination and cooperation a truly meaningful impact has been made on the school and the community around it.

On the completion of the project, MCCC Dr. Celeste Schwartz, MCCC Vice President of Pottstown Campus, Information Technology, and Institutional Effectiveness had this to say:

“Back in 2018 Romina Larregina had worked closely with MCCC Music Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Sound Recording and Music Technology, Michael Kelly and SRT Director David Ivory to develop our new recording studio. That project was a great success and led to our decision to return to them for this new assignment. We were confident in their level of professionalism and commitment, and they did not disappoint. Watching the WSDG team come up with answers and creative solutions was impressive. Observing them as they guided the team through the theater project and “tuned” the room’s acoustics was not just an education, it was genuinely exciting.”