With its fully glazed façade, the building lights up at dusk, transforming into a beacon of light and culture for the Midwest
Located on the banks of the Fox River in historic De Pere, Wisconsin, the Mulva Cultural Center is a cultural beacon for America’s Midwest. Designed by international practice Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), this 7,000 m2 arts and culture center is an excellent example of architecture that engages with its historical and natural context.
Founded by philanthropists James J. and Miriam B. Mulva, the center is a cultural and creative hub for the Greater Green Bay area. It hosts major traveling exhibitions from around the world, educational programs for all ages, and spaces dedicated to entertainment and community.
Built on a limestone plinth that once hosted De Pere’s first center of commerce, the Mulva Cultural Center weaves together past and future in architecture that pays homage to the region. Its 15 m-high glazed façade glows at dusk like a lantern.
The main entrance leads to a two-story atrium featuring natural materials, such as terrazzo, limestone, and white oak. At ground level there are a gift shop and a gourmet dining area with panoramic views of the river.
The structure also includes a 200-seat timber-clad auditorium equipped with state-of-the-art projection and performance technologies.
Designed for events on different scales, the auditorium has a sliding wall that can open to the adjacent restaurant, creating a seamless space for large events. With views of the river and nature, extensive outdoor terraces connect the center to the surrounding landscape.
The Mulva Cultural Center integrates advanced technologies to reduce energy consumption, including a highly insulated building envelope with triple glazing, a cantilevered steel canopy with integrated skylights to provide passive shading, and motorized Venetian blinds recessed into the ceiling for regulating natural light.
A geothermal heat recovery system provides efficient heating and cooling through a combination of radiant panels and air handling units.
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Location: De Pere, Wisconsin, USA
Completion: 2024
Client: De Pere Cultural Foundation
Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)
Main Contractor: M. A. Mortenson Company
Consultants
Structural, MEP and Sustainability: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)
Vertical Transportation: Fortune Shepler Saling
Façade Maintenance: Lee Herzog Consulting
AV, Acoustics, Security and Lighting: ARUP
Photography by Dave Burk, courtesy of SOM