WSU Studios
Ogden, Utah
Weber State University’s history began in the late 19th Century when WSU was founded in Ogden, Utah as Weber Stake Academy in 1889. In 1933, the Academy was made a state junior college and following World War II, the college moved to the present site on the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains overlooking Ogden and the Great Salt Lake. Weber awarded its first baccalaureate degree in 1964 and in 1991, the college became Weber State University.
The new Ray L. Kimber Music and Sound Recording Studio at Weber opened in October of 2021 and houses a large control room with a connected recording space. Being the first part of an ongoing project, the recording studio is a step toward an adjacent larger space that will house another recording studio, performance space and lecture hall. The facilities will be connected and will allow for combined operations between the rooms. Located in the Val. A. Browning Performing Arts Center, the new facility rounds out an existing program of concert halls, performance spaces and rehearsal facilities. Weber’s music recording program was launched in 2018, offering degrees in Sound Production and Recording.
Aaron Hubbard is a member of the adjunct faculty Sound Production and Recording program, teaching recording classes, audio fundamentals, and also oversaw the new studio design and construction. “The building was built in the 1960’s,” explains Hubbard. “It was remodeled in the late 90’s, accommodating large multiple performance spaces and rehearsal facilities. We had some big challenges to overcome and nonzero designed a facility that exceeded all of our expectations. We now have a professional recording studio in a good learning environment with great sight lines and a camera system that enhances the experience for the students. Working through the design process during a pandemic really opened our eyes to alternate ways of education. We added the infrastructure design to quickly capture lectures for video streaming. The result is a fantastic sounding space that is setup for a great educational experience.”
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music and media arts educational facility
1,800 sf; architecture, interiors, acoustics
completed 2021
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