Chapman University’s Renovation Strategy Preserves and Builds Out

Chapman University’s Sandi Simon Center for Dance is a two-story facility designed to propel the university’s dance program to new levels. Located at 350 N. Cypress in Old Towne Orange, the renovation project involves the adaptive reuse of the historic Villa Park Orchards building located on the west side of the campus just north of the K Residence Hall.

The interior renovation strategy was designed around preserving the building’s existing space, curved corners and natural light from clerestory windows. The first phase of the project comprises a retrofit of the 70,000-square-foot building with 39,000 square feet reserved for Chapman’s dance department. The second phase will complete the studio build-out with a target project completion of June 2022.

R.D. Olson Construction was the general contractor on the project.

“The specialized nature of this project, being both a dance facility and historic retrofit, led Chapman University to opt for a design-build-assist delivery method,” said Bill Wilhelm, president at R.D. Olson Construction. “With this approach, R.D. Olson Construction has been highly involved in the design, working in partnership with architecture firm LOHA to make the building structurally sound and incorporate the unique aspects of the historic space into the new dance center.”