The Hylton Performing Arts Center is designed to provide Prince William County, the City of Manassas and George Mason University the ability to educate, entertain and enrich the lives of the citizens of the County and City and the surrounding region by providing venues and facilities for outstanding professional performances appealing to a broad audience, provide resources for community arts groups and educational opportunities.

The opera-style performance hall represents a benchmark in modern theater design in terms of compact layout and audience interaction. The tight horseshoe shape and three vertical tiers of boxes create a setting in which no seat is farther than 90 feet from the proscenium. The intimate space offers a place where every performance, no matter the content or style, allows the audience to be fully immersed in the action. The ‘family boxes’ reinvent traditional seating that accommodates from 2 to 59 people and are structured to encourage the attendance of families with children and varied student groups.

The team undertook a comprehensive planning effort that included a needs assessment, a review of existing community and campus arts organizations, an attendee PRISM market study for the entire county, a building program, site planning options, preliminary cost estimates for construction and long-term operations, a business plan, a memorandum of understanding with the three entities, and a detailed management program for the operation of the facility.

“I would like to compliment both the architectural design and the acoustic performance of the Hylton Performing Arts Center. It has been a memorable experience” – Maestro Boguslaw Dawidow, Music Director and Conductor, The Opole Polish Orchestra