Jacob's Pillow | Perles Family Studio

New Performing Arts Facility | Becket, Massachusetts

Located in Becket, Massachusetts, Jacob’s Pillow  has been an institution in the Berkshires for over 80 years, and its new 6,000-sf dance studio honors this rich history by seamlessly fitting into the arts organization’s well-established campus.

View of building from grass with tree on the right extending over top of photo with blue sky in background

The highly flexible design for the new Perles Family Studio incorporates multiple program spaces and functions; It serves as a rehearsal space, instructional space, informal performance space, and a residency venue for visiting programs.

The space provides ample space for dancers, including 40-ft-by-60-ft clear floor space, warm-up space, and in-studio storage. Other features include radiant floors, controlled daylighting, low-velocity displacement ventilation, and professional acoustics.

Long section site plan
Nighttime view of patrons looking into windows of studio to the left with yellow light glowing
Short section of site plan
Exterior view of building at night with natural wood siding and green grass in front
Site plan
Ceiling Structure above theater seats with yellow lights on back wall
Axon plan for site
Dancer stretching on barre in dance studio with windows in the middle and at the top
Ceiling Structure with natural wood beams
Two people standing on second floor balcony outside, wood covering all sides
Dancers practicing in dance studio with seating to the left
Crew walking in courtyard with dance studio behind and blue sky on top

Project Information

Time Span 2015–2017

Type New Dance Studio

Client Jacob's Pillow Dance

Size 6000 square feet

Cost $4.5 million

Design Team David Croteau, Principal-in-Charge; Kelley Banks, Project Manager; Betsy Garcia, Project Architect

Consultants Theatre Projects (Theatre Design); Roome & Guarracino (Structural Engineer)

General Contractor Allegrone Construction

Photographer Robert Benson; Raber Umphenour

Videographer Raber Umphenour

Awards BSA Honor Award for Design Excellence (2020)

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Jacob's Pillow | Perles Family Studio

New Performing Arts Facility | Becket, Massachusetts

Located in Becket, Massachusetts, Jacob’s Pillow Dance has been an institution in the Berkshires for over 80 years, and its new 6,000-sf dance studio honors this rich history by seamlessly fitting into the arts organization’s well established campus.

Long section site plan
Nighttime view of patrons looking into windows of studio to the left with yellow light glowing
Short section of site plan
Exterior view of building at night with natural wood siding and green grass in front
Site plan
Ceiling Structure above theater seats with yellow lights on back wall
Axon plan for site
Dancer stretching on barre in dance studio with windows in the middle and at the top
Ceiling Structure with natural wood beams
Two people standing on second floor balcony outside, wood covering all sides
Dancers practicing in dance studio with seating to the left
Crew walking in courtyard with dance studio behind and blue sky on top
Aerial view of studio with trees surrounding on all sides
Time Span 2015–2017
Type New Dance Studio
Client Jacob's Pillow Dance
Size 6000 square feet
Cost $4.5 million
Design Team David Croteau, Principal-in-Charge; Kelley Banks, Project Manager; Betsy Garcia, Project Architect
Consultants Theatre Projects (Theatre Design); Roome & Guarracino (Structural Engineer)
General Contractor Allegrone Construction
Photographer Robert Benson; Raber Umphenour
Videographer Raber Umphenour
Honors & Awards BSA Honor Award for Design Excellence (2020)