Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women The Dismas Center for the Performing Arts

Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women, known for its academic and athletics, was built in 1928. In 1941, an auditorium, gymnasium, and Music Room were added. In 2015, the school asked SWBR Architects to create a Performing Arts Center for its expanding Arts program.

As the school is a designated historic building, the design had to seamlessly blend new construction with existing architecture. Auditorium renovations included new seating inspired by the original architecture, and new HVAC and sprinkler systems, which required the removal and replacement of the auditorium’s signature ceiling. Improved acoustics, new sound and lighting systems, and a control booth were added. Upstairs, the new Black Box Theater was built, an art gallery added, music rooms updated, and a new elevator put in for accessibility. The Main Lobby’s modern updates complemented the original design. And the finishing touch, a new marquee.

The new Dismas Center for the Performing Arts opened in 2016, marking the next act in the Arts at Our Lady of Mercy, creating new opportunities for future generations.