scope:

PURPOSE

The central purpose of this Design Guide is to ensure good quality in planning, design and use of Army Music and Drama Centers (MDC). The Guide attempts to describe the relationship between the physical characteristics and functional qualities of performance facilities. It establishes flexible criteria along with information and recommendations on which to base design decisions and evaluations.

Thoughtful use of the Guide will help develop designs responsive to new and changing needs by improving early design decisions. It will aid in the evaluation of designs in conjunction with the Army regulations and DOD criteria referenced herein, and provide general guidance in planning facilities for inclusion in military construction programs. Finally, using service personnel will find this Guide helpful in developing improvements and in better utilizing existing facilities.

SCOPE AND APPLICATION

Guidance, criteria, and procedures explained in this publication are applicable to all new Music and Drama Center (MDC) construction projects and to the evaluation of Army Performing Arts facilities in general. Morale Support Activities personnel contemplating improvements to existing occupied or found space will also find this document necessary.

Permanent Music and Drama Center projects will in most cases be designed as non-repetitive facilities. Illustrative examples provided are based on realistic but hypothetical facility programs; they are not definitive prototypes. Each installation's program and context will necessarily reflect local conditions. The Design Guide is not intended to furnish all the information needed for successful preparation of project designs, but it will provide the procedural framework and basic criteria.