The Academy of Live Technology (ALT) at Rock Lititz opened its newly constructed education facility to students on 23 August. The building welcomes Pennsylvania College of Art & Design students studying for the Live Experience Design and Production Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
ALT and PCA&D partnered in 2023 to offer an immersive BFA with hands-on technical experience and real-world opportunities. Students majoring in Live Experience Design and Production will take courses at PCA&D’s downtown Lancaster classrooms and will create in the digital labs and production space of this new ALT building on the Rock Lititz campus.
“There is no better place in the USA for the Academy of Live Technology to call home,” said Rachel Nicholson, Head of Institution for Academy of Live Technology worldwide. “Rock Lititz offers a rich community of innovators, experts, industry leaders, rebels and creators, working on real, high-profile projects. The environment on campus is a perfect place for students to prepare for a career in the industry.”
The ALT at Rock Lititz facility includes two floors of 22,400 square feet of custom-built classrooms, production space, digital labs and a students’ common area, with the option of expanding to the third floor to meet future needs. A fourth rehearsal studio is also included in the structure, with 45,800 square feet of open space dedicated to offering students hands-on experiences in production technologies, including audio, lighting, and scenic skills. Studio 4 will host student projects, product demonstrations and technical training sessions. Student classwork is largely hands-on, practicing with the technology currently used for building shows, simulating an actual show experience.
“This unique opportunity for our students creates a streamlined college-to-career pathway that will accelerate students’ learning exponentially in this high-demand industry,” said Audry Carter, interim President of PCA&D.
“ALT represents a global scale collaboration, melding the strengths and expertise of Rock Lititz, PCA&D and the British higher education provider Academy of Live Technology, which has provided live production creative, technical and professional skills to students since its founding in 2011,” said Rock Lititz President and CEO Andrea Shirk. “The live entertainment industry has experienced robust growth in recent years, and Rock Lititz is committed to supporting the next generation talent needed to continue creating innovative live experiences.”
Recognising the proximity to the Rock Lititz community and live experience and event production companies in the region, PCA&D added a major in Live Experience Design in 2021 to prepare art and design students for opportunities in this growing industry.
“We’re excited that PCA&D has created a world-class live experience design degree for our students supported by our partner, ALT at Rock Lititz,” said Jim Warner, Chair of the PCA&D Board of Trustees.
