Agave Hall Fully Renovated To Accommodate Performing Arts Students

Agave Hall, one of the original buildings on campus, has been fully transformed into a modern looking, multi-purpose, environmentally friendly building for the college's performing arts program. The 39,000-square-foot building is now a space for performing arts instruction and rehearsal for students participating in band, choir, dance, orchestra and theater.
 
Originally constructed in 1986 on the Pecos Campus, the newly renovated Agave Hall features a music library, instrument repair room, two professional level dance rooms, state-of-the-art record control booth, multiple rehearsal classrooms and a large community meeting space. General purpose classrooms along with faculty offices provide an instructional hub that is flexible and adaptive to changing curricular needs of CGCC’s students.  The large community room complement's these by accommodating supporting events and activities as well as providing space for multiple classes to participate in joint instructional activities.

"From a performing arts aspect, Agave Hall is creating incredible energy and excitement for our students," said Randy Wright, Communication and Fine Arts Director of Instrumental Music at CGCC.  "Agave offers numerous new opportunities for student performers at Chandler-Gilbert Community College, taking our program to a new level."

The Agave Hall renovation was also designed to meet the needs of the college's ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability. In fact, Agave is the first 100% LED lighting building in the Maricopa County Community College District. Additional examples of sustainable operations include: a new efficient roof, bottle fill stations, energy efficient air conditioning units, high performance glass to keep heat out and let natural light in, new insulation and stucco on the south side of the building and 100% reclaimed water used for irrigation.

"This was more than just your average remodel, it was complete transformation of one of the oldest buildings on campus," said Charlie Poure, Director of College Facilities Planning and Development at CGCC. "Agave is unlike any other building on campus. Not only from a sustainability perspective, but also from a design perspective. Agave has the first true community room on campus, a newly designed and constructed walkway leading to the Performing Arts Center and an outdoor living space that students can take advantage of year round."

The building renovation started last December as its previous residents (student affairs, student services and the fitness center) relocated to the new Coyote Center and was completed this August. The $6 million renovation was completed in August as part of the public's approval of the 2004 General Obligation Bond Funds.