Slippery Rock University’s Performing Arts Center, including Miller Theater, received professional accolades for its unique and inventive architecture. The Pittsburgh branch of the American Institute of Architects, the national professional organization in the field of architecture, has awarded the facility with a certificate of merit in the large structures category of the 2025 Design Pittsburgh awards.
Pittsburgh-based firm R3A Architecture designed the facility that was part of a $33 million expansion and renovation project of SRU’s Performing Arts Complex that was completed in 2021.
Pittsburgh AIA described the facility as having successfully united scattered and dated facilities into a “vibrant, contemporary home for the arts.” The intent of the design of the facility was to “create light-filled, flexible spaces that inspire creativity, support professional-grade performances, and connect students, faculty, and community through cultural experiences” by addressing “challenges of accessibility, outdated infrastructure, and scattered program needs through adaptive reuse and strategic expansion.”
The jury behind the awards also weighed in, expressing admiration for the motif of arches within the space, saying that it “really works, reminding us of Roman theaters, curtains, and boxseats,” nods to the artistic merit of the space as well as its utility and the ingenuity behind its creation.
The acknowledgement of this remarkable, purpose-built spaces aligns with the University’s current investment in spaces, a dimension of the University’s commitment to fostering the growth of students and employees by providing necessary resources that align with their needs and interests.
The facility includes two studio spaces for classes, rehearsals and student presentations and a 753-seat proscenium theater for large scale performances from groups like the SRU Dance and Theatre departments as well as guest artists.
Upcoming performances in the space include the dance department’s Emerging Artists Dance Concert on Jan. 31 and SRU Theatre’s production of William Shakespeare’s “The Winter’s Tale” from April 17-20.
More information about the AIA’s 2025 Design Pittsburgh award can be found on the Institute’s website. Information about upcoming events at the Performing Arts Center can be found at sru.edu/tickets.
