Architect Deborah Berke’s 80,000 sf renovation of and 30,000 sf addition to a 1950s Jewish Community Center originally designed in part by Louis Kahn, is home to the Frederick Iseman Theater (formerly Holcombe T. Green, Jr. Theater) experimental theatre, as well as the School of Art.

At the project’s onset, FDA and the Yale School of Drama faculty sought input from other designers and consultants who are Yale School of Drama alumni. During schematic design, their ideas and suggestions were incorporated into the project. Deborah Berke, FDA, and scenic designer Ming Cho Lee were all instrumental in the planning for this new experimental space, contributing ideas and suggestions about the locations of catwalks, wraparound galleries, and seating plans. Back-of-house planning, along with equipment that includes portable seating riser systems and state of the art stage lighting controls, were among FDA’s contributions to the project.

In 1965, the esteemed Yale School of Drama founded the Yale Repertory Theatre to facilitate a closer relationship between training and practicing professional theatre for students and faculty.