1. Project Name: George Gardner Performing Arts Center
2009 Monarch Award
Project Name: George Gardner Performing Arts Center
City, State: Holbrook, Arizona
School Type: 9-12 High School
Construction Type:
Submitting Firm: SPS+ ARCHITECTS LLP
George Gardner Performing Arts Center

2. Holbrook Auditorium Main Entry
George Gardner Performing Arts Center
Page-1

3. Main Plaza access to auditorium, pathway to gymnasium the entry has scaled approach to each area created by steps first, then perforated canopies, and interior corridor can be seen and then the access to the point of interest.
George Gardner Performing Arts Center
Page-2

4. Holbrook Auditorium night view
George Gardner Performing Arts Center
Page-3

5. depicted in the floor design.
Main Lobby as representative of the Native American Hogan in its shape and wood ceiling.
a petrified wood slab from the Petrified forest area is at the bottom of the star
depicted in the floor design.
George Gardner Performing Arts Center
Page-4

6. Main Lobby Entry
George Gardner Performing Arts Center
Page-5

7. Walls and Ceilings shaped for natural acoustics.
George Gardner Performing Arts Center
Page-6

8. Main House
George Gardner Performing Arts Center
Page-7

9. Main House Auditorium, 809 seats.
George Gardner Performing Arts Center
Page-8

10. Restrooms, showing acid stained floor, slate tile
wainscot & custom fabricated lavatories.
George Gardner Performing Arts Center
Page-9

11. As possible to each culture.
Gallery area for display of different cultural exhibitions appears as neutral
As possible to each culture.
George Gardner Performing Arts Center
Page-10

12. Site Plan 4 5 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
Auditorium
Gymnasium
Weight Room
Vocational/Carpentry
Welding Shop
Science Classroom
Junior High School
Administration & Library
Arts Classroom
Music Classroom
Classrooms
Community Plaza
High School Classroom
Parking
Kitchen
Multi-Purpose
Drop-off
Dining Room 16 2 6 7 3 12 1 14 8 17 9 10 11 13 15 18 14
6’ 12’ ’ ’
George Gardner Performing Arts Center
Page-11

13. Floor Plan 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
Gymnasium Foyer/Gallery
Audio Control
Ticket Booth
Men’s Toilet
Tickets
Concession
Main Lobby
Janitor
Storage
Drama Library
Toilet
Exterior Plaza
Corridor
Women’s Toilet
Riser
Stage Right
Orchestra Pit Below
Center Stage
Stage Left
Piano Storage
Practice Rooms
Electrical/Mechanical
Gallery
Sheet Music Library
Art Classroom
Choir Classroom
Jazz Band Classroom
Concert Band Storage
Concert Band Classroom
Main House
Jazz Storage
Teachers Office
Workroom
Catwalk Access
Future Restrooms
Exterior Corridor 1 35 8 5 6 9 35 4 34 10 11 3 16 13 36 7 2 17 18 30 19 22 14 34 20 13 15 23 21 32 32 32 31 21 29 26 25 25 24 27 28
3’ 6’ ’ ’
George Gardner Performing Arts Center
Page-12

14. Project Narrative
This particular performing arts center was created with a lot of flexibility in mind. The design team was faced
with coming up with a plan for the community of Holbrook to finally have a state of the art facility that would
last far into the future. The auditorium house was created for lots of versatility. First, there were considerations
for the students and the instructors. The building was designed to give them the best available technology for
stage rigging, audio, lights, props, stage layouts and acoustics, considering always the opportunity for them to
be creative and use the system to their advantage. Motorized rigging and computer controlled systems were
provided to facilitate the learning process without the need to have a highly specialized instructor teaching on
obsolete systems. A catwalk system with double bridges was provided to create a variety of options for lighting
designs similar to those that can be found in larger auditoriums. The acoustics in the house were designed to
provide the best natural sound without the use of any technology, allowing the opportunity for students to
perform without enhanced audio.
The second factor considered was providing a building for the community that could be used for different
activities such as training, guest performances for the community, art displays, and of course performances
by students. The final major factor in the design was to create a place in which the community could gather.
The Holbrook High School campus had an existing gymnasium as well as music and art classrooms adjacent
to the auditorium site. There was an opportunity to tie all these activities in one location and create a
gathering point. The new building was designed with this in mind and an exterior plaza was created that
became the new façade for the campus and, now, community center. Two lobbies in addition to the main
entrance lobby were integrated in the design. One is for sports activities and a concession area for
auditorium/gymnasium common use. The other is a gallery lobby which will display works of art from the
different cultural groups while serving as access to the music and art classrooms.
Materials used on the design were selected to further emphasize the cultural heritage of the town of
Holbrook. The surrounding landscape has a dramatic impact to the visitors; the building had to bring
this in a reasonable manner by the use of materials and elements. The geometric elements on the
building were added in order to complement the existing high school campus. At the same time materials
and colors were selected to represent the nearby Painted Desert with layers of colors. Stone was
quarried from a site nearby to bring this identity to the main element of the building and, finally, steel
canopies and decor with a natural rusted appearance were added to the facility in an effort to resemble
the existing structures and elements found in the old Route 66 in downtown Holbrook.
George Gardner Performing Arts Center
Page-13

15. Project Budget Page-1 Project Total Budget Building Size SF Cost/SF $
Final Cost
A/E FEE
Completion
Remarks
Location
George
Gardner
Performing
Arts Center
7,000,000
27,566
254
6,941,932
460,946
On Schedule
Design
Reviews
Simplified
Rigging
System & Cost
Holbrook
Arizona
George Gardner Performing Arts Center
Page-14
Page-1

16. Project Details January 2008 Page-15 Project Name
George Gardner Performing Arts Center
City
Holbrook
State
 Arizona
District Name
Holbrook High School
Supt/President
Ferral Knight
Occupancy Date
January 2008
Grades Housed
9-12
Capacity (Students)
 809
Site Size (acres)
11 Acre, Complete Campus
Gross Area (sq. ft.)
 27, SF
Per Occupant (pupil)
  SF/Pupil
gross/net please indicate
Gross.
Design and Build?
Design and
If yes, Total Cost:
 $6,941,932
Includes:
Stage, Seating ,Fixed Equipment, Building Construction
If no,
Site Development:
Building Construction:
Fixed Equipment:
Other:
Total:
George Gardner Performing Arts Center
Page-15