Overture Center for the Arts, Madison, Wisc. (Jeff Goldberg/Esto, courtesy of Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects)

The firm chosen to design the new Hancher Auditorium at the University of Iowa has vast experience designing performing arts centers around the country, Hancher Executive Director Chuck Swanson said.

UI officials chose Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, based in New Haven, Conn., from four finalists interviewed by a university committee last week. The four finalists came from a pool of 59 applicants.

Pelli Clarke Pelli has designed some of the world’s tallest buildings, including the World Financial Center in New York City and the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

But Swanson said he was impressed by how the firm seems to make each design unique to that site and that building.

“What I like is they do so much research, they try to understand the programs, the mission, the vision, the site,” he said. “They really try to design based on context.”

Officials expect the completed design for Hancher to be bid in spring 2012, with the project completed in spring 2015. Hancher was damaged in the 2008 flood; the new auditorium will be built to the north and west, up the hill  from the old facility and out of the floodplain.

Petronas Towers Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Jeff Goldberg/Esto, courtesy of Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects)

The firm’s portfolio also includes designs of performing arts centers, libraries, academic buildings, athletic buildings and museums. Pelli Clarke Pelli has designed three projects at Grinnell College, including the Bucksbaum Center for the Arts and the Bear Recreation Center.

The feedback to the new buildings and working with Pelli Clarke Pelli at Grinnell was positive, Marci Sortor, vice president of institutional planning and history professor, said.

“They gave us three fabulous buildings,” she said. “They have a wonderful vision and a beautiful sense of how those buildings fit into the environment.”

UI President Sally Mason said in a statement she expects the new Hancher will be an iconic, 21st century performing arts center.

“Cesar Pelli is a giant in the architectural community, and we are proud to have his talents shaping such an important building for the University of Iowa,” Mason said.

Pelli Clarke Pelli is a large firm, Swanson said, but he believes the Hancher project will be an important one for the architects.

“They love the site,” Swanson said. “You could just tell they were extremely, extremely excited about this job. I think it was just the perfect choice.”

The firm’s designs can been seen at www.pcparch.com.