Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras: Designing for the Arts

Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras | Designing for the Arts

More than 500 students participating with the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra now have a beautiful, inspiring, and permanent space for rehearsal and camaraderie. Serving kids ages 5-18, the new building on East Washington Avenue sits in a vibrant arts neighborhood in downtown Madison and is poised to become a hub for youth arts in the city. The organization has a strong commitment to diversity and inclusivity, with programs designed to reach underserved youth.

Established in 1966, the organization has seen growth while using schools, churches, and parking lots as practice spaces. WYSO works to enrich lives by providing transformational musical experiences & opportunities, and the new building will help foster this mission through stronger community bonds and access to creative resources for the thousands of students who will walk through their doors.

“Through their involvement with Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras, all young people will be inspired to sustain a lifelong connection with music and to strive for personal excellence in music and in life. ”
— Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra
Architectural interiors of WYSO in Madison, WI, photographed by Crimson Sun Studios

Under the artistic direction of Kyle Knox, WYSO includes three full orchestras, two string orchestras, a chamber music program, a harp program, a percussion ensemble, a brass choir program and the WYSO Music Makers program. The building features three state-of-the-art rehearsal halls, eight studios, nine practice rooms, administrative offices, and a music library. The facility was designed by Madison-firm, Strang, and constructed by Findorff. From Strang’s website, “The striking design of the WYSO music center is inspired by the shapes of musical instruments. Sweeping curved roofs reflect the contour of a cello and the landscaped gardens mirror the shape of a bell and trumpet. Ceiling patterns and acoustic panels echo the shape of sound waves. The copper material used throughout the building imitates a timpani drum.”

Continued from Strang’s website, “The large rehearsal halls each hold a 100-musician orchestra with balconies that offer viewers the opportunity for bird-eye observation. Because acoustics were of central importance, the building implements creative sound design in order to block busy street noise and isolate sound within each hall. Local Wisconsin materials were also used as a source of inspiration and the exterior was sourced from local Wisconsin limestone. The building also meets energy efficiency best practices, satisfies Madison rain-water-runoff goals, and includes a partial green roof.”

the value of Architectural Photography

Photographing this beautiful building was a real pleasure. We created imagery over three photography productions: first in spring, second during the summer, and last during the fall. This provided us a few different looks of the interiors and exteriors with different lighting and setups. The story of this space revolves around the expanding arts in Madison, WI and designing and constructing a unique building for that cause. It brings inspiration to the students and families who attend classes and to folks walking or driving by through this main corridor of Madison.

Architecture and construction firms choose to work with Crimson Sun Studios because of their trust in our experience bringing quality results for every single project we capture. Architecture, design, and construction work to change people’s everyday life and no project is less significant than another when we are working to tell it’s unique story. Through thoughtful design, spaces can function more in-tune with our daily lives and bring a cleaner world with green certifications. With talented and hard working contractors, these designs and ideas are brought to life, sometimes with significant challenges and battles through changing weather. AEC firms shape our communities and the way we live. Architectural photography and videography tell the stories that these diligent, hardworking folks spent so much of their time crafting.

If you’re interested in learning more about how Crimson Sun Studios works, or if you have a project you’d like photos or video of, reach out below. We would love to learn more about your firm and the work you’re doing, and provide a free, no-obligation quote to bring your accomplishments to the world.