Savannah College of Art and Design has big plans for its Atlanta campus.
SCAD Atlanta is in the early construction stages of a multi-phase expansion at its Midtown campus on Spring Street. The overhaul includes a 11-story residence hall that accompanies a new 700-seat auditorium and black box theater that will be located behind the Forty residence hall.
SCAD believes the expansion will help its growing campus feel more connected.
“We’ve noticed that a lot of people that come to Atlanta love that campus culture,” said Audra Pittman, SCAD's vice president. “We want to make it easier and more accessible for students. Location is everything.”
The construction of the theater comes in the wake of SCAD’s recently formed performing arts program. The school looks to mesh its digital media properties with its fine arts program to create a more collaborative ecosystem. The new theater is expected to host signature events, industry screenings and special performances.
SCAD continues to expand its campus as enrollment balloons. The renowned film school is also making a significant investment to buildout its digital media center, which will include a Hollywood-style XR stage — similar to one that will be used for its Savannah expansion. The construction on the digital media center is expected to begin next month, with projected completion by next spring.
The residence and dining hall are scheduled for completion in fall of 2022 while the new theatre and fitness facilities are expected to be completed by fall of 2023.
The move comes as jobs continue pouring into the Midtown area, including for Microsoft Corp.'s new office in Atlantic Station. SCAD’s decision to expand their Atlanta offerings comes as Tyler Perry Studios and Trilith Studios are also bolstering their campuses.
| Rank | Prior Rank | Institution |
|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | Georgia State University |
2 | 2 | Kennesaw State University |
3 | 3 | Georgia Institute of Technology |
