Prudential Hall, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Newark, New Jersey, USA

Prudential Hall is the concert theater within New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), which opened in 1997. The New Jersey Performing Arts Center is composed of two major performance spaces - Prudential Hall and Victoria Theatre - along with a striking all-glass lobby, restaurants, dressing rooms, founders lounge, bar, cafe and a gift shop. Directly adjacent to NJPAC is its Education Department housed at The Lucent Technologies Center for Arts Education. This design-build project was an instant success and is looked upon as a model project in urban renewal, architectural design, and operation of a performing arts center.

The 2700-seat Prudential Hall is able to host a variety of performances including opera, ballet, symphony orchestra, and a Broadway Series that has included musical theater favorites such as "Chicago" and "Thoroughly Modern Millie". To accommodate the highly individual needs of each of these styles, the Hall is equipped with many adjustable features. During an ensemble performance, concert towers are positioned on the stage and coupled with the concert ceiling to create a perfect environment for symphonic concerts. For opera or dance, the concert towers can be removed. For these performance types the orchestra pit could serve as a stage extension or be configured into an additional seating area.

Every year the Center presents a multitude of touring groups and companies along with performances by its New York City's American Ballet Theatre, and NJPAC's resident company, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra.

Artec provided Design and Planning services covering Auditorium Acoustics Design, Specialized Performance Equipment Systems (sound & communication systems) design and Background Noise and Vibration Control consulting for the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. The Architect was Barton Myers Associates.