Collage Dance

505 Tillman Street, Memphis, TN 38112 United States

Building Area (sf): 21,800 sf

Completion: March 2021

Architect of Record:

archimania

archimania

• Owner/Client:
• General Contractor: Grinder, Taber & Grinder, Inc.
• Electrical: Innovative Engineering Services, LLC (IES) - M/P/FP
  Fowler Engineering, LLC - Structural
  Burr & Cole Consulting Engineers, Inc. - Civil
  DePouw Engineering, LLC - Electrical
  Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. - Landscape
• Engineering:
  
• Other:
  
• Photography:
  firm
  

A growing dance company envisioned a new space that would enrich communities of color through arts access, and increase representation for dancers of color in ballet.

A local dance company’s journey to becoming a cultural anchor in Memphis is energized by its mission: to increase representation for dancers of color in ballet, and to enrich—both culturally and socioeconomically—communities of color through access to the arts. The company grew from a dance class in a church basement with one student into an internationally-touring professional company and conservatory with 250 students that outgrew their 3,000 sq ft space in an established arts district. Committed to remaining a part of the historically African-American neighborhood, the client enlisted our team to aid in selecting a site for their new building. Located on over an acre of land on the prominent corner of Tillman - a neighborhood street with mixed-use development, and Sam Cooper Avenue - a major traffic artery offering high visibility, the project aided in brand-awareness while evoking a sense of movement and creativity to the neighborhood.

The company’s program was growth-minded, including: 4 rehearsal studios; performance studio; expanded administration spaces; lounges for Company dancers, Conservatory dancers and parents; retail space; dressing rooms; costume shop; and generous lobby and pre-function spaces including 2 courtyards and an outdoor plaza.

The building form was conceived as two tiers, alluding to two dancers in a lift. Glazed brick base offers durability and permanence at street level while holding up a lightweight, corrugated galvalume parapet. The lively metal parapet ‘crown’ dances in both plan and elevation, enclosing interior spaces and exterior courtyards and disguising varied roof heights between studios and public space.