Wilson Butler Architects | Boston Arts Academy

Wilson Butler Architects

ARTS EDUCATION

WE DESIGN PLACES TO EXPERIENCE TOGETHER

We know how to move people. Whether an aerial performer, hundreds of students per day, or an entire audience brought to the edge of their seats - our designs are kinetic, experiential, and built to last with an eye for the theatric.

Let’s romanticize pragmatism. We approach programmatic, operational, and design challenges with a child-like enthusiasm, innovating through pragmatic solutions thoughtful of the end user.

Memories for all. Welcoming and inviting, our spaces break traditional barriers between patrons, performers, students, and community to bring memorable experiences within reach.

Left Image

WBA Staff Brainstorming Session | Boston, MA

Right Image WBA Office | Boston, MA

2023 AIA EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES AWARD

“This is not just a laboratory, but a vehicle for high performance that provides a wealth of opportunities for students. It is an incredible asset for the Boston Public School System.”

- Jury Comment

PREPARING THE ARTISTS OF TOMORROW

OTHER RECENT AWARDS:

Learn By Design Magazine

2023 | Citation of Excellence

LES Illumination Awrds

2023 | Honorable Mention

The Boston Arts Academy | As the city’s first and only public high school for the visual and performing arts, the building’s innovative design allows the school to accelerate its unique academic program. Envisioned as a laboratory for artistic and academic innovation, the new five-story school serves as a beacon for the Fenway neighborhood that articulates its importance as a learning community.

Inside, classrooms and lab spaces dedicated to traditional academic disciplines blend with robust facilities in theatre, music, dance, and visual arts. The facility is designed as a community campus to facilitate and encourage interaction between various art forms and provide critical learning pathways to prepare students for both their collegiate and professional careers.

Left Image Lobby Gathering Stair & Stage | Boston, MA

Right Image Dance Studio | Boston, MA

BAA was designed in partnership with Perkins Eastman.

Collegiate Ambiance Fostering Interaction

Open and immersive gathering spaces provide opportunities for formal and informal learning to flow seamlessly throughout the Boston Arts Academy.

Laboratory for Creative Innovation

Dedicated learning spaces for academic and arts disciplines are designed to encourage creativity and collaboration.

Hands On Theatre Education

Boston’s only teaching theater, the 500-seat proscenium theater is a fully accessible educational tool for students focusing on theatre performance and stage operations.

A Hub Of Artistic Activity

“Every floor a stage, every wall a gallery” is one of the central tenets of the BAA, best exemplified through numerous dance, music, and rehearsal studios.

Showcasing Student & Touring Art

Art galleries create a rich experience of discovery, and a blank canvas for the display of student creations and feature works by local and touring artists.

Community Beacon for Arts Education

Catering to the local arts community, the school offers affordable rental options for local artists and performers, acting as a beacon for the neighborhood and an invitation to connect with community.