"My debt is to the craftsmen who make our furniture. They are Thos. Moser – not me, them." – Tom Moser

Interior of Gordon Center for the Performing Arts at Colby College. Designing for Flexibility:

Inside the Gordon Center for The Performing Arts

 

When Colby College envisioned a new Performing Arts building, the goal was clear: create a space that could be both iconic and adaptable. The result is the Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts,  designed by William Rawn Associates, Architects Inc., known for designing celebrated performance venues. Anchoring the south end of campus, the Gordon Center is a 74,000-square-foot building that is one of the most advanced and innovative performing arts facilities in New England.

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The 300-seat performance hall inside the Gordon Center exemplifies the flexibility that contemporary performing arts spaces demand. Wrapped in warm wood yet open at the back with glass that can be dimmed and shaded, the hall adapts to the scale and mood of each event. Its acoustical systems are customizable, whether for the resonance of a symphony orchestra or the intimacy of a solo recital. A stage with an adjustable orchestra pit ensures further adaptability, expanding or contracting the performance footprint as needed.

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Furniture as an extension of the design

The details mattered in this modern hall, and here, even the seating becomes part of the design story. Boston-based firm,  Marcy Stefura Associates, oversaw the specification of the Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment (FF&E) of the space. None of these elements were treated as an afterthought, but rather as an integral part of the design decision. Colby and Marcy Stefura turned to Thos. Moser, whose handcrafted work embodies both New England heritage and modern functionality.

The Pacific Stacking Chair was chosen for its ability to meet the Center’s need for lightweight and easily reconfigurable seating. With discreet ganging hardware, the chairs can be securely locked into rows for formal performances or quickly unlinked and stacked when the floor needs to be cleared for rehearsals, workshops, or alternate programming. In large-scale cultural venues where flexibility is paramount, this level of mobility ensures the architecture is supported rather than constrained by the furniture.

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A gallery of images of the Pacific Stacking Chair at Colby College

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As a result, the furniture is more than functional; it becomes part of the building’s identity. For architects and interior designers, this collaboration highlights how handmade furniture can unify large-scale spaces while still allowing for maximum versatility. For architects and designers working on arenas, performing arts centers, or university hubs, the Gordon Center sets a benchmark:

  • Flexibility without compromise—spaces that transform yet retain acoustic and visual excellence.
  • Integration across disciplines—architecture that fosters collaboration and interaction.
  • Furniture as a design extension—thoughtful, high-quality pieces that match both function and aesthetic.

 

The Gordon Center isn’t just a performance space; it’s a framework for creativity. For those designing the next generation of large-scale cultural arenas, it demonstrates that adaptability, transparency, and craftsmanship can harmonize at scale.

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