Gordon College’s multi-million dollar music/arts center to feature striking glass apertures
Gordon College in rural Wenham, Mass., recently released plans for the Adams Center for Music, “a world-class performance hall and incredible expansion to the College’s music program,” according to a news release.
Scheduled to break ground in summer 2026 and open in fall 2028, the facility will bring all the college’s music programs, including choral and instrumental ensembles, under one roof for the first time.
The center will feature best-in-class performance and rehearsal spaces, including a 500-seat performance hall, large ensemble rehearsal room, and dedicated spaces for choral and music education. The center will have sweeping views of A. J. Gordon Memorial Chapel and the campus landscape.
The new building, adjoining the existing Phillips Music Center, will feature striking glass apertures along campus pathways providing views into all key performance and rehearsal spaces—symbolizing transparency, creativity, and connection.
The performance hall stage will accommodate a variety of performances, from large choral orchestral masterworks to chamber music. Wrap-around seating enveloping the performers will provide audience members with a deeply immersive and communal musical experience, offering a shared, intimate engagement among performers and the audience.
“This project reflects Gordon’s commitment to investing in the arts and expanding the reach and reputation of our music program,” said Gordon College President Michael D. Hammond. “The Adams Center will be one of the finest collegiate musical facilities in Massachusetts—serving as a beacon for musical excellence, community engagement, and academic distinction throughout New England.”
Design firm Epstein Joslin + Picardy Architects is known for designing spaces for acclaimed acoustic and visual artistry across the country.
“The most eye-catching features of the building will be its transparency and communal shaping, both literal and symbolic,” says said Alan Joslin, Founding Principal of Epstein Joslin + Picardy Architects. “The extensive and creative use of glass throughout this design serves as a visual and embracing invitation to both the Gordon community and the North Shore region to engage with the arts in a profound way.”
On the project team:
Owner and/or developer: Gordon College
Owner project management/representation: Accenture Infrastructure & Capital Projects
Architect: Epstein Joslin + Picardy Architects
Acoustician: Kirkegaard
Theatre Consultant: Theatre Consultants Collaborative
MEP engineer: Bala Consulting
Structural engineer: WSP USA Buildings, Inc.
A/V Consultant: Acentech
Landscape/Civil: Waterfield Design Group
Lighting Design: LAM Partners
Code Consultant: Hastings Consulting
