Spectacular, stunning, amazing… there is no shortage of words to describe the renovated and expanded HopkinsCenter for the Arts.
The renovation has kept the best of the Hop—Wallace Harrison’s iconic arches remain a defining element of Dartmouth’s Arts District—and the building has maintained its original footprint. However, the expansion has added 15,000 square feet of space, including dynamic venues in the new Daryl and Steven Roth Wing.
Students are already enjoying the reignited Hop, and the four-day Dartmouth Arts Weekend Celebration will formally open this exceptional building, reimagined to make art central to the Dartmouth experience. Here is a summary of major new and renovated spaces in the Hop, developed by the design firm Snøhetta, that will be open for the celebration weekend.
Daryl and Steven Roth Wing
The Daryl and Steven Roth Wing encompasses many of the new spaces where students, faculty, and visiting artists will imagine and create art. Framed by the Hop arches and the Hanover Inn, the Roth Wing provides a new, central point of entry to the Hopkins Center and redefines the vista looking south from the Green. The soaring entrance, known as the Roth Forum, welcomes and orients visitors to the Hop’s vibrant mix of performance venues.
Trustee Emeritus Steven Roth ’62 TU’63 H’12 and 13-time Tony Award-winning producer Daryl Roth made the lead gift for the wing, reflecting their abiding passion for the arts. Among the wing’s most versatile spaces is the Daryl Roth Studio Theater, which features a flexible seating configuration, a sprung floor, and advanced sound and lighting technologies.
“We feel that the new wing at the Hop will be a place that brings people together and that this space will welcome programs that engage and inspire,” says Daryl Roth. “I believe theater, in particular, can be the ultimate bridge builder, with stories that open our hearts and minds and take us places where we can come to better understand ourselves and others.”
Jack 1953 and Mac 2011 Morris Recital Hall
A dramatic glass-walled beacon inviting all to the Hopkins Center, the Jack 1953 and Mac 2011 Morris Recital Hall will host the creation and presentation of musical performances and immersive experiences. The hall features a sculpted wood interior, versatile acoustics, a new Steinway D grand piano, and a sensational view of the Green and Baker Library.
The recital hall is a gift from Kate Morris and Hans Morris ’80, a former chair of the Hopkins Center Board of Advisors. At the Morrises’ request, the recital hall is named in honor of Hans’ late father, John “Jack” Morris ’53, and their late son, John “Mac” Morris ’11.
Hodgson Family Dance Studio
The Hodgson Family Dance Studio is the Hopkins Center’s first-ever space dedicated to dance. Located directly below the recital hall, the studio includes a sprung floor, a 20-foot ceiling, and a glass ribbon of windows to flood the space with daylight and connect with the exterior plaza. Mirrored walls reflect the light and heighten the sense of openness.
The dance studio is a gift from Laurie Hodgson, Trustee Emeritus Dave Hodgson ’78, and their children, Nora ’13, Nick ’16, and John.
Top of the Hop
A favorite place for students to gather, study, and relax since the building opened in 1962, the Top of the Hop is set to become an important venue for small performances. With its improved acoustics and lighting, the space will become a busier locale for activities such as improv performances, readings, concerts, and film screenings. The original teak flooring has been refinished, and the fireplace has been upgraded—and with the addition of a bar serving coffee in the morning and a mix of offerings in the evening, the Top of the Hop will be a popular stop throughout the day.
Anne Blackburn ’91, a member of the Hopkins Center Board of Advisors, and Jeff Blackburn ’91, a trustee emeritus, made the lead gift to renovate the beloved space. The Blackburns’ gift includes funding for programming activities.
Mindy Kaling Theater Lab
Already in heavy use for teaching and rehearsals, the Mindy Kaling Theater Lab, adjacent to the Warner Bentley Theater in the lower level of the Daryl and Steven Roth Wing, is a place for experimentation. Equipped with a sprung floor, lighting grid, and professional sound system, the lab mirrors The Moore Theater stage, meaning students can stay in rehearsal in the Kaling longer and allow for other programming on the Moore stage.
The theater lab, supporting student productions from conception to performance, is made possible by the generosity of actor, writer, director, and producer Mindy Kaling ’01 H’18.
The Larissa Roesch Woodlands
Featuring a stand of trees and large stones, the Larissa Roesch Woodlands define the northwest boundary of Dartmouth’s Arts District and link the Hop to the Green and the forests of New Hampshire.
The plaza is made possible by a gift from Larissa Roesch ’88, a long-time volunteer leader and a founding member of the Centennial Circle of Dartmouth Alumnae.
David A. Graves Stage at Spaulding Auditorium
The 792-seat theater, featuring the David A. Graves Stage at Spaulding Auditorium, has been modernized and outfitted with upgraded, more accessible seating and improved acoustics.
Through a gift from his family, the stage is named for the late David Graves ’70, a dedicated alumnus whose career in media and broadcasting included serving as senior vice president of strategic planning for Westinghouse Broadcasting, president of global media for Reuters, and senior vice president of media for Yahoo!
Richard J. Lessow Student Commons
The Richard J. Lessow Student Commons provides an intimate, informal, and comfortable gathering place for students to meet and create. Located off the main level’s central corridor, the commons invites students to stop by to study and socialize.
Kim Lessow Crockett ’92, a member of the Hopkins Center Board of Advisors, made the lead gift to create the commons in honor of her father, Richard J. Lessow ’64.
Bildner Family Terrace
The Bildner Family Terrace, located outside the Top of the Hop, offers an unobstructed view of the Green and all the buildings encircling it. The terrace has long announced student productions and welcomed visiting artists. With renovation to the Hop’s façade, the terrace will be open for students, faculty, staff, and guests to enjoy for the first time in many years.
Jim Bildner ’75, a member of the Hopkins Center Board of Advisors, his wife, Nancy Bildner, and their daughter, Lizzie Bildner ’08, made the gift to refurbish and reopen the terrace.