There is a renaissance underway at Irvine Valley College (IVC) with the recent opening of the new $61 million IVC Arts Village, bringing all arts programs together into a single complex next to the school’s Performing Arts Center.
Grand opening ceremony of the new IVC Arts Village
The Arts Village’s three buildings — totaling some 62,000 square feet — are set around a central courtyard and feature state-of-the-art facilities for music, dance, visual arts and fine arts as well as performance and exhibition spaces.
The largest building is devoted to Music & Dance and includes classrooms and labs, practice rooms, two dance studios, and a music library. Nearly a dozen private rehearsal rooms line “Thunder Alley.” A centerpiece is the 150-seat recital space and amphitheater that can be used for classes or performances.
The Visual Arts building has classrooms specially designed and equipped for painting, drawing and sculpture, including a ceramics studio with 24 pottery wheels.
The Fine Arts & Gallery building has an art gallery and a lecture/recital hall that can be used for lectures, art exhibitions and student shows.
South Orange County Community College District Trustee Carolyn Inmon called the new complex “spectacular.”
Inmon said the designers and builders consulted closely with faculty and outside experts to determine what features the buildings should have, with a focus on “training students for the future.” The digital arts and virtual reality labs that will open in the fall will put students on the cutting edge of technology, while the 12 upright and seven grand Steinway & Sons pianos will give students concert-hall quality instruments to learn and practice on.
Another major focus, Inmon said, was collaboration and communication across disciplines. Conference rooms feature whiteboard tabletops so students can sketch and work out ideas. Common spaces have lounge areas, portable desks and cork boards on the walls to encourage collaboration and creativity.
The Arts Village also has a LEED Gold equivalency rating for its energy-efficient and environmentally friendly design.
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