When designing and building a performing or fine arts facility, design teams are usually creating a one-of-a-kind building for a client who typically does not engage in construction projects. Additionally, the governance structure of these institutions often differs from that of a for-profit business, making the design and construction process both challenging and rewarding. Before taking on the real estate development process of these unique structures, the institution should ask themselves: Do we currently have the in-house capability to manage this process? What expertise are we missing and who should we bring onto the team? How would a new facility meet our mission statement? How will we manage the capital campaign to raise funds to cover design and construction costs? Jon Maass and Marc Warren have spent years working with mission-driven organizations to fill the knowledge gap in the institution’s team and to get these unique and complex facilities programmed, designed, constructed, and opened.
