Facilities

The Greatbatch School is housed in two facilities:

1. The Center for the Arts (CFA) a 42,000-square-foot facility dedicated & occupied in 1999.
2. The John & Charles Wesley Chapel (WC), a multi-purpose hall dedicated in 1961, Floor plans for these facilities are attached as Appendix XI.

An ancillary space, the 288-seat Rosemary Tysinger Auditorium at Houghton Academy, is used for musical theater and opera workshop productions.

During this academic year we anticipate the installation of a 2-manual, 29-stop mechanical action organ being built by James Louder and Associates, of Montreal. Located in Houghton Wesleyan Church, just off campus, it will be used by organ students for practice and recitals (in addition to the chapel Holtkamp).

The Center for the Arts

Built in 1998-99, the CFA is designed specifically for its current use. Appropriate sound design criteria, soundproofing, climate control, and aesthetic considerations were a part of the building program from the outset. The resulting facility is universally seen as the ‘jewel of the campus’ in terms of quality, design, and appropriate use of space. Particularly striking is the amount of natural light that bathes interior spaces. The CFA is equipped with first-rate electronic music, recording and classroom presentation technology.

Music spaces in the CFA comprise:

• A 225-seat recital/choral rehearsal hall featuring superb adjustable acoustics, flexible stage seating, high-quality sound, fine lighting equipment and flexibility, powered projection screen, and back-stage storage areas, and an adjacent green room with changing, make-up, and toilet facilities.
• A spacious atrium, suitable for general and formal public gatherings, serves as the architectural heart of the building, drawing together all three floors of the facility.
• An instrumental rehearsal suite capable of seating 80-plus musicians, surrounded by ensemble library, percussion storage, instrument repair & storage, practice, and student locker spaces.
• Three academic classrooms fully equipped with up-to-date audio-visual and computer projection equipment, smart podiums featuring networked PCs, and student seating that permits all students to be networked if desired. Two of these rooms are used for primary academic instruction in music, the third for general college instruction. The music history room (CFA300) contains 10-seat seminar table, also fully networked.
• A music education classroom/resource center with seminar tables, flexible student seating, and up-to-date audio/video equipment, and three student workstations.
• A group keyboard/computer workstation room featuring a Korg keyboard lab group, with space for 4-6 purpose-specific computer workstations now in the planning stages.
• 14 spacious faculty studios equipped with grand pianos (2 for each piano studio), up-to-date audio equipment (video equipment is also available in voice studios).
• A state-of-the-art recording studio control room and small studio. The studio control room handles digital recording for the studio, recital hall, instrumental hall, and chapel auditorium.
• A music library housing all scores and media, along with basic standard reference works. Books about music are kept in the main library. The listening facilities include four listening rooms for groups of up to six, fully equipped with good-quality sound systems. Two rooms also have video capability.
• Seven large practice/studio spaces that serve for student and chamber group practice, adjunct and part-time instruction.
• 24 practice rooms with flexible acoustics, mirrors, network access, and upright pianos
• A faculty lounge off the atrium, containing food storage and preparation facilities.
• An administrative suite, also off the atrium containing the director’s office, administrative assistant’s office and workspace.
• Basement facilities for mechanical/HVAC requirements along with art and music storage spaces.
• An elevator capable of holding all CFA pianos reaches all floors of the building.
• Four pairs of rest rooms, two on the first floor, and one each on the second and third floors.

These spaces are a joy to use for faculty, students, and the public. Fully handicapped accessible, so arranged as to draw in all campus constituencies on a regular basis, the CFA has been a transforming asset for Houghton College and the Greatbatch School of Music.

You may also download the floor plan of the CFA (PDF, 803KB).

Wesley Chapel (WC)

The Chapel is built of local stone with an interior of concrete block, cement, and plaster. Heated by forced air, it has no air conditioning.

Spaces available in Wesley Chapel comprise:

• Main Floor:
  • A 1,150-seat auditorium/sanctuary (852 orchestra, 298 balcony). This principal space in Wesley Chapel, designed for music by the acoustical firm of Bolt Beranach Newman, is available for large ensemble performances and can be used for solo and chamber performances as well. The auditorium houses a 61-rank Holtkamp organ (the last opus of Walter Holtkamp, Sr.). Click here for a complete Holtkamp stop list. The stage is some 37 feet deep and 75 feet wide, and is especially suitable for large instrumental or vocal instrumental ensembles.
  • The organ loft.
  • Two offices for faculty or staff.
• Basement:
  • Presser Hall, a space for chamber performance, musical theater & drama rehearsal, and dance. The space features a small stage, full mirror walls, r, barres, audio equipment, and an upright piano.
  • The Manley Organ suite, containing two acoustically treated organ practice spaces.
  • A third organ practice room that also houses the college’s two harpsichords.
  • A large rehearsal space for sound-reinforced musical groups. This space also includes storage for opera workshop.
  • A drum studio

You may also download a floor plan of Wesley Chapel (PDF, 206KB).

Tysinger Auditorium

This 289-seat venue is located in Houghton Academy nearby the main college campus. This theater features a 44’ proscenium, 28-foot-deep stage with fly loft & pin rail, four light battens, cyclorama, front and rear projection screens, full stage rigging, 24-channel sound and computerized lighting controls, light rail, commodious storage and shop facilities, a small dressing/costume room, and restrooms.