Rachel M Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center, Northern Virginia Community College, Alexandria, Virginia, USA

The Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center is a multi-purpose theater located on the campus of Northern Virginia Community College. The Center opened in the fall of 2001.

The Schlesinger Center contains a 1,000-seat multi-purpose theater for music, theater, dance, and public forums and seminars. The theater accommodates many performances and events for the various University departments. In addition, the Center provides a venue that has the ability to host large performance groups and off-Broadway theater companies yet remain affordable for local non-profit groups.

Through a system of integrally designed acoustic panels, the stage converts easily between a concert enclosure and fully equipped stagehouse. The system includes four sets of permanently installed side-masking towers, five moveable rear towers, a fixed acoustical back wall that extends above moveable rear towers, and four adjustable-angle ceiling panels. The orchestra pit is an adjustable platform with stops at stage level, seating level, and pit level. Stage rigging is a single purchase counterweight system with forty-two line sets.

Artec provided Design and Planning services covering Pre-Design Phase services, Auditorium Design, Facility Planning, Specialized Performance Equipment Systems Design and Background Noise and Vibration Control consulting. Architect for this project was Tobey Davis Architects (now The Smith Group).