Muir Architects was commissioned to renovate the original 1970s Fine Arts Museum building on the campus of the University of Utah, transforming it into a comprehensive academic and creative facility. The program includes classrooms, recording studios, a screening theater, film and stage set studios, administrative and faculty offices, a break room and kitchenette, student lounges and study areas, film storage, equipment checkout, and conference rooms.

A key component of the project was the conversion of the existing auditorium into a film theater. This transformation included reframing the stage, integrating a new projection screen, reconfiguring seating for optimal viewing, and designing a projection booth capable of accommodating vintage film equipment.

The design also considered potential partnerships with the independent film community, including the Sundance Institute, which informed the inclusion of an outdoor event space and ticketing area. This required careful planning to separate public event functions from student and faculty areas, including the addition of a dedicated entrance with an ADA-compliant ramp.

The renovation introduced the Gittins Gallery, a 2,360-square-foot exhibition space designed to showcase student and faculty work while inviting public engagement. Supporting this program, a catering kitchen was integrated to accommodate events, along with two blackout screening rooms embedded within the gallery for short films and video presentations.

Design Principal: Prescott Muir and Lisa Arnett