» Department of Fine and Performing Arts
The Ron Houston (pronounced HOUSE-ton) Center for the Performing Arts contains the Mary Linn Auditorium, Studio Theater and other facilities related to the dramatic arts, including a black box performance space, scene shop, costume shop, green room and faculty offices.
The Mary Linn Auditorium, the main performance space in the building, is a 1,027-seat theater that can accommodate a full symphony orchestra and Broadway-style stage productions. Its namesake, Mary Casteel Linn, was a member of the Board of Regents from 1975 to 1981 and a dedicated patron of the arts.
The Studio Theater, a 5,500-square-foot facility, was added in 2009 in conjunction with the renaming of the facility in honor of Houston, a local businessman and friend of Northwest who has generously supported numerous building projects and academic initiatives.
Total square feet: 60,114
Year completed: 1984
Located on the south side of campus, this circular structure honors the long-time faculty member and nationally recognized leader in art education, Olive DeLuce. The Fine Arts Building contains the Olive DeLuce Art Gallery, classrooms, rehearsal rooms, art studios and offices for the Department of Fine and Performing Arts. The 549-seat Charles Johnson Theater is named for the first chairman of the Spring Festival of the Arts, which evolved into the year-long Northwest Encore performance series.
Total square feet: 91,465
Year completed: 1965
This triangular structure is located south of the Olive DeLuce Fine Arts Building. It houses ceramics, sculpture and welding programs. The building also is equipped with various sophisticated safety, fire prevention and ventilation systems.
Total square feet: 11,227
Year built: 2004
