Design team selected for Phase 2 of Stevens Center renovation

Dear Faculty and Staff, 

I am thrilled to announce today that we have selected the design team that will take us to the finish line for the renovation of the Stevens Center. Jenkins Peer Architects (JPA), based in Charlotte, will join Steinberg Hart, based in Los Angeles, as the design team for Phase 2, which will complete the comprehensive renovation of our beloved performing arts venue and learning laboratory, preserving its legacy as an anchor for the arts in the Triad, and transforming it into a world-class venue for audiences and students of today and into the future.

The design team was selected following a nationwide search and approved by the UNCSA Board of Trustees at the March 8 meeting.

JPA is known for its forward-thinking approach and sustainable design practices, as well as a focus on building community, with a proven track record in creating dynamic performing arts venues that inspire creativity and collaboration. With a portfolio that includes a focus on campus architecture, providing creative design solutions to college and universities throughout the Carolinas, JPA brings a wealth of experience to the Stevens Center renovation project including Robinson Hall Performing Arts Center at UNC Charlotte, Cultural Arts Building at UNC Wilmington and the renovation of Thompson Theater at NC State University.

Steinberg Hart will continue their work as the design architect for the Stevens Center project, bringing a national perspective and related experience including the restored and reinvigorated performance venue for the Manhattan School of Music in New York; ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center in downtown Charlotte; and more. Steinberg Hart received the American Institute of Architects (AIA) California Firm Award in 2023, AIA’s highest honor.

We are thrilled to welcome JPA to the UNCSA team as architect of record as we embark on Phase 2 of the Stevens Center renovation project, and to continue our already successful work with Steinberg Hart. This team’s expertise in architectural design and commitment to innovation and community align perfectly with our vision for the future of the Stevens Center as a hub for artistic excellence, a training ground for the artists of tomorrow, and catalyst for arts and entertainment in the Triad community.

You can read more about the phases of the renovation and what they will include at uncsa.edu/stevens and in this press release.

The Stevens Center closed for renovations in November 2023 and will remain closed throughout the renovation. While the renovation is expected to take at least three years, a more exact timeline for the length of the renovation and estimated building reopening will be determined following the completion of the design and planning stages of Phase 2, expected to take about one year. Construction for Phase 2 is estimated to begin in fall 2025.

You can follow the timeline for the Stevens Center renovation at uncsa.edu/stevens.

I know you all are as excited as I am to be taking these significant steps toward rejuvenating our cherished downtown home, which will usher in the next era of its long life as a world-class performance venue.

Sincerely,

Brian Cole 
Chancellor