Hancher continues its brilliant legacy of dance, music, and theater
![Hancher has a striking exterior with sweeping horizontal forms inspired by the nearby Iowa River.](https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/79079f1fa2-1711377702/hancher-auditorium-hero-shot-320x-q80.jpg 320w, https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/79079f1fa2-1711377702/hancher-auditorium-hero-shot-640x-q80.jpg 640w, https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/79079f1fa2-1711377702/hancher-auditorium-hero-shot-1040x-q80.jpg 1040w, https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/79079f1fa2-1711377702/hancher-auditorium-hero-shot-1440x-q80.jpg 1440w, https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/79079f1fa2-1711377702/hancher-auditorium-hero-shot-2880x-q80.jpg 2880w)
Hancher Auditorium is a premier regional performing arts center that connects the University of Iowa with its vibrant surrounding community. From a hilltop overlooking the beautiful Iowa River, the new building welcomes artists and audiences to an innovative 1,800-seat proscenium theater, a black box theater, a three-story lobby and atrium, café and gift shop, and state-of-art backstage facilities. Hancher Auditorium furthers the university’s mission to give students, faculty, and staff an inspiring environment to hone ideas and bring transformative artistic works into being.
![](https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/f542676c55-1711377701/hancher-auditorium-iowa-river-320x-q80.jpg 320w, https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/f542676c55-1711377701/hancher-auditorium-iowa-river-640x-q80.jpg 640w, https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/f542676c55-1711377701/hancher-auditorium-iowa-river-1040x-q80.jpg 1040w, https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/f542676c55-1711377701/hancher-auditorium-iowa-river-1440x-q80.jpg 1440w, https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/f542676c55-1711377701/hancher-auditorium-iowa-river-2880x-q80.jpg 2880w)
A theatrical home for performances that inspire and connect communities
Hancher’s main performance space is a distinctive 1,800-seat proscenium theater with the capacity to host a diverse range of performances. The visible catwalks and rigging equipment are painted deep blue to recede from view. Glowing circles of LED lights are woven and suspended from the ceiling, a landscape of figures that appear to expand and rise out of the space. The effect is subtle but celebratory, reflecting the transformative experience of an evening at the theater.
![](https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/ed1290a1a8-1711377701/hancher-auditorium-lobby-interior-crop-320x-q80.jpg 320w, https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/ed1290a1a8-1711377701/hancher-auditorium-lobby-interior-crop-640x-q80.jpg 640w, https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/ed1290a1a8-1711377701/hancher-auditorium-lobby-interior-crop-1040x-q80.jpg 1040w, https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/ed1290a1a8-1711377701/hancher-auditorium-lobby-interior-crop-1440x-q80.jpg 1440w, https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/ed1290a1a8-1711377701/hancher-auditorium-lobby-interior-crop-2880x-q80.jpg 2880w)
![](https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/1e3e8ee336-1711377703/hancher-auditorium-main-hall-320x-q80.jpg 320w, https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/1e3e8ee336-1711377703/hancher-auditorium-main-hall-640x-q80.jpg 640w, https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/1e3e8ee336-1711377703/hancher-auditorium-main-hall-1040x-q80.jpg 1040w, https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/1e3e8ee336-1711377703/hancher-auditorium-main-hall-1440x-q80.jpg 1440w, https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/1e3e8ee336-1711377703/hancher-auditorium-main-hall-2880x-q80.jpg 2880w)
“The building’s curved glass and metal forms in concert with its transparency evoke a deep connection to the river and landscape and extend a welcoming invitation to the university and greater Iowa City community.” — Mitchell A. Hirsch, AIA, LEED AP
![](https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/1b8ee533b6-1711377704/hancher-auditorium-nighttime-practice-exterior-320x-q80.jpg 320w, https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/1b8ee533b6-1711377704/hancher-auditorium-nighttime-practice-exterior-640x-q80.jpg 640w, https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/1b8ee533b6-1711377704/hancher-auditorium-nighttime-practice-exterior-1040x-q80.jpg 1040w, https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/1b8ee533b6-1711377704/hancher-auditorium-nighttime-practice-exterior-1440x-q80.jpg 1440w, https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/1b8ee533b6-1711377704/hancher-auditorium-nighttime-practice-exterior-2880x-q80.jpg 2880w)
![](https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/e874155e2f-1711377705/hancher-auditorium-rehearsal-space-320x-q80.jpg 320w, https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/e874155e2f-1711377705/hancher-auditorium-rehearsal-space-640x-q80.jpg 640w, https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/e874155e2f-1711377705/hancher-auditorium-rehearsal-space-1040x-q80.jpg 1040w, https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/e874155e2f-1711377705/hancher-auditorium-rehearsal-space-1440x-q80.jpg 1440w, https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/e874155e2f-1711377705/hancher-auditorium-rehearsal-space-2880x-q80.jpg 2880w)
![](https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/c38d119487-1711377703/hancher-auditorium-maker-space-320x-q80.jpg 320w, https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/c38d119487-1711377703/hancher-auditorium-maker-space-640x-q80.jpg 640w, https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/c38d119487-1711377703/hancher-auditorium-maker-space-1040x-q80.jpg 1040w, https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/c38d119487-1711377703/hancher-auditorium-maker-space-1440x-q80.jpg 1440w, https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/c38d119487-1711377703/hancher-auditorium-maker-space-2880x-q80.jpg 2880w)
![](https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/de14ec0a1d-1711377700/hancher-auditorium-detail-steel-320x-q80.jpg 320w, https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/de14ec0a1d-1711377700/hancher-auditorium-detail-steel-640x-q80.jpg 640w, https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/de14ec0a1d-1711377700/hancher-auditorium-detail-steel-1040x-q80.jpg 1040w, https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/de14ec0a1d-1711377700/hancher-auditorium-detail-steel-1440x-q80.jpg 1440w, https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/de14ec0a1d-1711377700/hancher-auditorium-detail-steel-2880x-q80.jpg 2880w)
![](https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/38b1f23cca-1711377700/hancher-auditorium-exterior-close-up-320x-q80.jpg 320w, https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/38b1f23cca-1711377700/hancher-auditorium-exterior-close-up-640x-q80.jpg 640w, https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/38b1f23cca-1711377700/hancher-auditorium-exterior-close-up-1040x-q80.jpg 1040w, https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/38b1f23cca-1711377700/hancher-auditorium-exterior-close-up-1440x-q80.jpg 1440w, https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/38b1f23cca-1711377700/hancher-auditorium-exterior-close-up-2880x-q80.jpg 2880w)
![](https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/10787760e3-1711377704/hancher-auditorium-nighttime-exterior-320x-q80.jpg 320w, https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/10787760e3-1711377704/hancher-auditorium-nighttime-exterior-640x-q80.jpg 640w, https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/10787760e3-1711377704/hancher-auditorium-nighttime-exterior-1040x-q80.jpg 1040w, https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/10787760e3-1711377704/hancher-auditorium-nighttime-exterior-1440x-q80.jpg 1440w, https://pcparch.com/media/pages/work/hancher-the-university-of-iowa/10787760e3-1711377704/hancher-auditorium-nighttime-exterior-2880x-q80.jpg 2880w)
More About the Project
Project Team
- Mitchell A. Hirsch, AIA, LEED AP ↗
- David Coon ↗
- Celia Toche ↗
- Gina Narracci
- Amrit Pilo
- Katy Harp-Dinnen
- Tiffany Li Fu
- Dylan Hames
Principal Collaborators
- Architect of Record: OPN Architects
- Structural Engineer: Thornton Tomasetti
- MEP: Alvine and Associates
- Acoustician: Kirkegaard Associates
- Theater Planner: Theatre Projects Consultants
Project Information
- Location: Iowa City, Iowa, USA
- Client: The University of Iowa
- Size: 187,700 sq. ft. / 17,439 sq. m.
- Completion: 2016
- Certification: LEED Gold
- Firm Role: Design Architect
Awards
- 2020, Architecture Merit Award, USITT
- 2019, Project of the Year, AIA Connecticut Design Awards
- 2019, Award of Excellence, AIA Connecticut Design Awards
- 2018, American Architectural Award, The Chicago Athenaeum
- 2017, Award of Excellence, International Association of Lighting Designers
News
- Principal Project Photography: Jeff Goldberg/ESTO