Goizueta Stage for Youth & Families

Atlanta, GA

Architect:

Perkins&Will

As part of the Woodruff Arts Center’s $67 million “Experience Atlanta, Experience Woodruff” capital campaign, the former Rich Theatre is being transformed into the Goizueta Stage for Youth & Families—a modern, flexible 300-seat venue designed to engage the next generation of audiences. Originally built in 1955 as the Hill Auditorium and later integrated into the 1968 Memorial Arts Building, the theater’s historic brick walls and original entry are being carefully preserved and reintroduced as part of a major reimagining of the campus. Led by Perkins&Will, the renovation includes a new glass entry facing Peachtree Street, enhanced accessibility, outdoor green space, and an adjacent PNC PlaySpace for early learners—creating a more open, inviting civic presence for Woodruff and its cultural partners.

The reconfigured venue will serve as a permanent home for youth- and family-focused programming from the Alliance Theatre and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, featuring a deployable stage system that allows for varied performance formats and event types. The project includes major upgrades to audience amenities, backstage areas, building systems, and overall connectivity within the Arts Center campus. Designed with inclusivity and educational impact at its core, the space supports a range of sensory-friendly and neurodiverse accommodations, as well as ticket and transportation subsidies to expand access. Programming will launch in January 2026, and the venue will operate year-round to serve school groups, families, and community partners across Atlanta.