Raising the curtain in New Jersey

In New Brunswick, N.J., the stage is set for a whole new theater experience for patrons of the arts.

Now, if only the COVID-19 pandemic would relent, it would give potential guests the opportunity to see what the buzz has been about in the community for a decade.

The New Brunswick Performing Arts Center, a $172 million project that unites 207 upscale apartments and two distinct theaters, opened amid terrific fanfare in September 2019. “For years, I’ve had this dream,” David Saint, Artistic Director of the George Street Playhouse, said to NJMonthly.com at the center’s grand opening. “Today, it’s finally coming true.”

The dream turned nightmarish six months later. The pandemic brought a dead stop to performances in June. Some small events have been scheduled, but there is not yet a timetable on when the facility will return to a full performance schedule.

The crown jewel in the 23-story project, designed by Elkus Manfredi Architects, is the Elizabeth Ross Johnson Theater, a 463-seat proscenium theater designed to accommodate musical theater, dance, opera, and dramatic theater. The Arthur Laurents Theater can seat up to 252 patrons for dramatic theater, dance, lectures and community and musical events. The theaters give off different vibes – one more grandiose, the other more intimate – but both are appealing to audiences.

The 5,400 square foot lobby adds an area where guests can mingle before shows, andthree rehearsal rooms give incoming productions a space where they can practice and move on quickly to the main stage. The spaces can also be used for general classes, workshops, and small public performances.

The apartments include studios, 1-bed, 1-bath, and 2-bed, 2-bath units. The units come with appliances, panoramic views of New Brunswick (Manhattan is visible from the roof deck) and tons of amenities, such as a rooftop pool, fitness center, demonstration kitchen, karaoke room and residents lounge.

To help guard against noise intrusion, architects specified eight acoustical smoke vents manufactured by The BILCO Company. The vents – 2 were 5-feet x 10-feet, the others were 5 feet, 6-inches by 12-feet – guard against noise intrusion while providing the security of automatic smoke venting. Earlier this year, BILCO unveiled a new model that offers an OITC-46 sound rating and an STC-50 sound rating. Both figures are the highest in the industry. 

^{The project includes acoustical roof hatches manufactured by The BILCO Company, which limit noise intrusion while also allowing for the release of smoke, heat, and gases in a burning building.} 

“We were familiar with the manufacturer from previous projects and they offered the most advantageous sizes,” said Andrew Goetze, the lead architect on the project. “The fire code stipulates a certain percentage of the stage area needs to be properly vented and BILCO had sizes that fit the bill.”

Smoke vents allow for the escape of smoke, heat, and gases in a burning building. The vents include a positive hold/release mechanism that ensures reliable operation when a fire occurs. It also automatically releases vent covers upon the melting of a 165 F (74 C) fusible link.

The show will eventually go on in New Brunswick. When it does, theatergoers will be treated to an environment they are sure to remember.

^{Photos courtesy of Elkus Manfredi Architects.}

The BILCO Company
P.O. Box 1203
203-934-6363
Email: commercial@bilco.com