The Prior Performing Arts Center, designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, unites music, theater, and visual arts in a unified facility. The Beehive is the heart of the building, a three-story atrium and café that invites the campus and public into a shared creative space and offers views into rehearsal, performance, and gallery areas.

The center includes a 400-seat proscenium theater for concerts, recitals, and theatrical productions; a flexible 200-seat studio theater; rehearsal and practice rooms; a recording studio; dressing rooms; and costume storage. A large rehearsal room adjacent to a catering kitchen also supports events and gatherings with views across Worcester.

The Cantor Art Gallery features expanded exhibition space to showcase the college’s permanent collection and host major exhibitions. Outdoor gardens anchor the building’s corners, including an amphitheater for open-air performances and gatherings. High-performance lighting, audio-visual, and theatrical systems support a wide range of programming across disciplines.

Photography: © Iwan Baan and © Brett Beyer