New Theater, Major Renovations Coming To University Of Mary Washington

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — The University of Mary Washington is getting a new theater and major upgrades to its arts facilities as part of a construction project on its Fredericksburg campus.

Skanska announced Wednesday that it was selected to lead the project, which includes a new multi-story, 68,230-square-foot theater that will become home to UMW's Department of Theatre and Dance.

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The new building will feature a 293-seat performance hall.

Existing Arts Buildings To Be Renovated

The project also calls for 82,000 square feet of renovations to existing fine arts buildings and an 8,950-square-foot addition.

Other improvements include:

• New arrival and drop-off areas
• Accessible parking
• Improved pedestrian connections
• Outdoor academic and program spaces
• Plumbing, heating and cooling, electrical and life-safety upgrades
• Improved sound isolation
• Safety improvements to art studio exhaust systems
• Changes intended to improve movement through the buildings

The university's arts departments will continue operating during construction. Skanska said it will complete the work in phases, using temporary spaces to minimize disruptions.

"Active construction takes careful sequencing, and our team's deep expertise will allow us to deliver all portions of the project without interrupting the campus community," Mark Balling, executive vice president responsible for Skanska's Mid-Atlantic building operations, said in a statement.