Ahart Family Arts Plaza

Spanning the Bushkill Creek, the open-air arts plaza is a flexible venue for art exhibits, performances, receptions, and other gatherings.

To construct the plaza, architects Spillman Farmer rejected conventional theater design and removed the front and rear walls of the existing building, but left the central timber truss and steel columns. The removal of the rear wall allows for a view of the water and connects the space to the natural environment.

The plaza was selected to be featured in the Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space, a premier international exhibition showcasing innovative projects from around the world. It also received a Commercial Real Estate Development Award from Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce in 2012 and a design award from the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Institute of Architects in 2013.

The College dedicated the arts plaza in honor of Ed Ahart ’69, chair of the Board of Trustees, and his wife, Catherine Ahart P’97’03, in recognition of their commitment to the development of the Williams Arts Campus and in tribute to the family’s devotion to the College.