Misty's Dance Unlimited
Onalaska, WI | Commercial
Overview
ISG designed Misty’s Dance Unlimited’s (MDU) new dance studio and retail space to enhance the quality of its services.
Opportunity
Hosting more than 200 dance classes a week, MDU is an award winning dance studio located in Onalaska, Wisconsin. With a growing class schedule and demand for more studio space, MDU needed to expand. ISG designed plans for MDU’s new studio, as well as a retail facility, to enhance the overall experience for dancers, their families, and staff.
Solution
To better comprehend MDU’s needs and learn how current spaces were utilized, ISG coordinated an interactive meeting and site visit with MDU, where key values were identified at the beginning of the schematic design phase. Catering to students from 2 to 18 years, new dance studio needed to serve a widely varied audience. Improving visitor circulation within the hallways and out in the parking lot was a particularly important concern to the entire community, as there was frequent congestion between classes.
The new building encompasses approximately 22,000 sq. ft. of space and sits on over two acres, providing parking on two sides. Inside are six main studios, one large sized performance studio, a child’s play area, office space, costume shop, conference room, multiple storage areas, locker rooms, and coffee shop. Sitting two stories tall, the first floor of the facility caters to the younger students and includes a spacious waiting area. Located at the heart of a cluster of studios, the waiting area can seat approximately 20 individuals for those waiting to pick up their child. The interior partitions in the studios have gypsum soundboard and insulation to improve sound control. The upper level serves middle and high schoolers and was designed to create a college student union feel and dedicated outlets to iPads, phones, and other electronics. Attached to the west side of the building, the retail and rental space creates a stronger link to the local community by offering an entrepreneurial opportunity to small businesses.
Tailored to the vision, branding, and goals of Misty’s Dance Unlimited, the new dance studio supports their growing community with a purposeful design layout.