McKendree University Hettenhausen Center for the Arts

Lebanon IL

"McKendree University has a real gem in the Hett Center for the Arts. This is truly one of the best halls I have performed in. The overall sound on stage and in the hall is so beautiful and clear that we were completely relaxed and focused solely on the music we were creating. This hall stands out as one of the truly great venues in this country."

— Emily Onderdonk, San Francisco Quartet

• Working with Schuler Shook on the Hett Center for the Performing Arts, Mackey Mitchell designed a complete performing arts facility. This building has two large rehearsal areas, small ensemble practice rooms, dressing rooms, a scene shop, and a green room. The lobby is multi-purpose, providing performance pre-function space as well as space for banquets. Designed as a monumentally-scaled portico, the lobby creates a grand sense of arrival. The glass arch on the building's facade is lit with color-changing fiberoptics. Visible from afar, this award-winning light display announces events at the Hett, and serves as a beacon to the community.
• The $10 million, 34,000SF building has a 479-seat theater. Successful from its first gala performance in late 2006, the Hett has already become a community destination.
• "Music lovers can rejoice that, at long last, metro-east now boasts a concert hall that rivals the best in any major city," said Dr. A. Dennis Sparger, Conductor, The Masterworks Chorale and the Bach Society of Saint Louis. The architects and builders have accomplished a magnificent success."