Wachholz College Center Named a Learning by Design 2024 Outstanding Project
We’re excited to announce the Flathead Valley Community College’s Paul D. Wachholz College Center has been named a 2024 Outstanding Project as part of Learning by Design’s Awards of Excellence Program. The October 2024 edition of Learning by Design magazine features the Wachholz College Center along with other exemplary PK-12 and post-secondary campus projects that have made a big impact on students, faculty, staff, and their larger communities.
The Wachholz College Center is a 67,000-square-foot facility that combines two distinct venues into one stunning building on the FVCC campus. The goal of the project was to meld two programs that are usually separate — performing arts and athletics — into one grand facility.
While there were many innovative design solutions employed, one in particular was achieving acoustic separation for the two primary spaces. The design team utilized an acoustic isolation joint with isolation pads that support balcony-level bridges between the two venues. These engineering features act to split the building in half and separate the spaces acoustically, making it possible to have a 1,000-seat theater and music classrooms on one side of the facility, and a dual-court gymnasium, fitness center, and health and wellness space on the other.
The Cushing Terrell team worked closely with specialty consultants Schuler Shook and Threshold Acoustics to create a facility that delivers a state-of-the-art user experience — for performers and audience members, as well as athletes and their fans.
View the Wachholz College Center profile in Learning by Design magazine >>
