USC DRAMATIC ARTS BUILDING (DAB)
City: Los Angeles
Developer: University of Southern California
GC: MATT Construction
Architect: Perkins Eastman | Pfeiffer
USC’s new home for the School of Dramatic Arts (SDA) is the result of the transformation of the historically signiÿcant 1931 United University Church. The project repurposed the sanctuary and lower level gathering space into performance venues and added spaces for consolidated programs, including rehearsal and backstage areas, teaching facilities, student spaces, and ofÿces. The adaptive reuse design carefully juxtaposes the new with the old, preserving original cast stone details, heavy timber trusses and light ÿxtures in the sanctuary while incorporating modern, crisp detailing in the new insertions. The project includes architectural and structural upgrades aimed at achieving LEED Platinum certiÿcation, setting a benchmark for sustainability in historic structures. If successful, it will serve as a national case study, demonstrating how historic buildings can achieve high levels of sustainability while retaining their original character. Situated on the northern edge of the University Park Campus (UPC), the building lies within the National Register Historic District. The preservation effort adhered to strict campus design guidelines, ensuring that the new additions were both complementary and compatible with the historic structure. This balance was achieved by respecting the surrounding campus context of brick, terracotta, and decorative concrete while introducing a modern interpretation of the architectural fabric
