Located on the banks of the Fox River in De Pere, Wisconsin, the Mulva Cultural Center is set to become a leading institution for civic and creative engagement in the Midwest. Spearheaded by philanthropists and De Pere natives James J. and Miriam B. Mulva, the Center will offer world-class cultural experiences, elevating the creative and architectural landscape in the Greater Green Bay Area. As a new home and destination for the creative arts and cultural programming, the Mulva Cultural Center will host traveling exhibitions from leading institutions worldwide, diverse programming, and educational opportunities for people of all ages.
The Center provides an array of spaces that will celebrate De Pere’s vibrant creative community. The building’s transparent facade elegantly transitions between indoor and outdoor spaces. At night, the illuminated structure will appear like a floating lantern along the river. Inside, an expansive, naturally-lit atrium spans the building’s two stories, creating opportunities for new connections between cultural programs. A 200-seat auditorium with an LED screen, a 300-person event space, flexible exhibition spaces, classrooms, a café, a gift shop, public parking, and varied indoor gathering spaces will provide new venues for public engagement. An expansive outdoor terrace provides sweeping views of the river and surrounding landscape.
Supported by a cantilevering steel structural canopy and smart technology designed to maximize daylight and minimize material use and visibility, the architecture of the Center will provide an elegant background for the institution’s diverse programming. A palette of limestone, timber, and triple insulated glass will define the space, inspired by its location adjacent to the river on the Wisconsin prairies.
The surrounding landscape completes the building’s connection to the river and region, featuring a lush green space replete with locations for enjoying the surrounding context. Designed to serve the community, the landscape at the Mulva Cultural Center incorporates pedestrian pathways and public spaces designed to increase connectivity to the site, the river, and the city.