August Wilson Center for African-American Studies, Pittsburg, PA
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August Wilson Center for
African-American Studies
Pittsburgh, PA
Panel Subconsultant: Met-Tec, Inc.
Architect: Allison G. Williams,
San Francisco
Wheaton Sprague, (WS) was hired by Met-Tec, Inc., a renowned architectural source for aluminum, bronze, and stainless steel fabrication, to provide complete structural calculations, and related structural coordination and design for the aluminum sheet panel wall system and the connections to the backup structure. One of the unique features of this building, and one of the unique challenges for WS was the complex ‘sail’ designed feature wall.
The August Wilson Center is an expansive 67,000 square-foot, two floor facility designed by San Francisco-based architect, Allison G. Williams, an African American. Ms. Williams is a principal at the international design fi rm Perkins + Will. The project’s total cost is in the neighborhood of $40 million.
More than a museum, the AWC will house a vibrant mix of cultural activites through engaging and inter-disciplinary presentations. It is designed to bring together people from all cultural backgrounds and ages. The building features a 500-seat proscenium theater for performances by local, national and international artists; a permanent exhibition gallery devoted to Western Pennsylvania’s African American cultural history; a changing exhibition gallery for the work of current African American visual artists and those of African descent; a Music Cafe’, featuring live Pittsburgh-based and national performances; as well as food of the African Diaspora; a
gift store; classrooms and educational activity spaces for families, school children and adults; and a multi-purpose room that can be used for visual and performing art and community-based meetings and events.
