U-M Walgreen Drama Center receives architectural award

Accolade for multimedia facility, destination venue on north campus

January 2009

ANN ARBOR, MI – The Charles R. Walgreen, Jr. Drama Center & Arthur Miller Theater will receive the Architecture Merit Award from USITT, an association of design, production and technology professionals in the performing arts and entertainment industry.

The award will be presented on March 20 at USITT's annual conference in Cincinnati, Ohio. Established in 1994 to recognize architectural excellence, the award aims to broaden awareness of innovative and significant designs for contemporary theaters and ancillary facilities.

"Since the doors opened in 2007, the Walgreen Center has been a beacon on north campus, a premier multimedia facility that has deeply enhanced our performing arts programs," said Christopher Kendall, dean of the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance.

"This award sheds an international spotlight on all those who created a unique performance and teaching facility," said Kendall. "We are grateful for their contributions and for creating a lasting symbol of the university's commitment to the arts."

Those recognized on the USITT award include Rick Reichman, associate university architect; Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects; Theatre Projects consultants, Inc.; and The Talaske Group Inc.

The Walgreen Drama Center includes 97,500-square feet on two floors, classrooms, studios, U-M Theatre & Drama Department offices, wardrobe and scene-building space, Stamps Auditorium and the 250-seat Arthur Miller Theatre, the only theatre in the world to bear the playwright's name.