The Schwartz Center

The Department of Performing and Media Arts is housed within the elegant Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts. A regionally recognized cultural facility, the Schwartz Center attracts 20,000 patrons a year to its varied activities.

Its marble walls encompass all the elements needed for teaching and performance in theatre, film and dance: four performance spaces, dance and theatre rehearsal studios, scenery, costume and prop shops, sound and lighting design studios, and film editing and production suites. The Schwartz Center serves as a catalyst for the creative and intellectual endeavors of the many talented students, faculty and staff at Cornell.

Administrative Office Hours:

• Monday-Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
• Saturday-Sunday: Closed

To contact the Front Office, call 607-254-2700.

Academic Year Building Hours:

• Monday-Friday: 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM
• Saturday-Sunday: 10:30 AM – 11:00 PM

Summer/Winter Break Building Hours:

• Monday-Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Saturday-Sunday: Closed

Main Entrance: The main entrance to the Schwartz Center is on College Avenue at the intersection of Oak Avenue. The entrance features two consecutive pairs of double doors and ADA push buttons. A 5° ramp takes you down into the main lobby. Our building maps also offer information about navigating through the building via the elevator or stairs from the main lobby.

Side Entrance: The side entrance to the Schwarz Center is on the right side of the building when you are facing the main entrance. Go down 10 steps just to the right of the main entrance and the entrance will be on your left. Coming from the opposite direction if you are walking up from Stewart and Williams lot, you can walk up the 32-step spiral staircase and the entrance will be on your right. 

Accessible Entrance Through Parking Lot: For accessible entry from the Dryden Road Garage through the Schwarz Center scene shop, please fill out the Accessibility Request Form.

Watch the video tour of the Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts, introduced by Katie Kim ’28. This video was created in collaboration with PMA 3571: Documentary Filmmaking.

Transcript

The Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts is located on College Avenue at the intersection of Oak Avenue. Please visit cornell.edu/visit for complete information about directions to Cornell’s campus. You will find information about the Campus to Campus Bus Service, the Ithaca TCAT Bus Service, taxi information, as well as directions to campus by bus, car, or plane.

Please visit cornell.edu/visit/parking for complete information about parking on Cornell’s campus. You will find information about weekday and weekend parking, paying in advance with the ParkMobile app.

See this link for more information about short-term parking on the Cornell campus. https://fcs.cornell.edu/departments/transportation-delivery-services/parking/short-term-parking-options

Dryden Road Garage (118 Dryden Road): (~3-minute walk / 500 feet mostly flat to Schwartz Center) This is the closest paid parking lot. Traveling south on College Avenue one block past Oak Avenue is Dryden Road. Take a right and you will see the Dryden Road Garage on your right. After parking, return to Dryden Road, and continue up the street to College Avenue. Turn left. The Schwartz Center will be one block down the street on your left. For accessible entry from the Dryden Road Garage through the Schwarz Center scene shop, please fill out the Accessibility Request Form.    

Street Parking: On Oak Street and throughout the Collegetown neighborhood, metered street parking is often available. These spaces are usually free in the evenings.

Bike Rack: There is a bike rack right in front of the Schwartz Center entrance doors.

Restroom Accessibility: All restrooms at the Schwartz Center are ADA accessible.

All-Gender Restrooms: The Schwartz Center has one single-use all-gender restroom on the main floor, and two single-use all-gender restrooms on the second floor. Click here to view a complete map of all-gender restrooms available across Cornell's campus.

In keeping with the University’s policy of nondiscrimination and the commitment to inclusion, the University encourages students, staff, faculty, and visitors to use the restroom or facility that corresponds to their gender identity. In addition, the University maintains a number of all-gender restrooms across campus to address restroom facility access not necessarily related to gender identity, such as access for parents with children and for other attendants/caregivers. These facilities are all-gender, accessible spaces, which may include amenities for families such as baby changing stations.

Menstrual Products: The student assembly passed a referendum stating that there will be free menstrual products in all bathrooms across campus, regardless of gender. Although this was passed, you may not always find these products readily accessible.  

Lactation Rooms: The Schwartz Center does not have dedicated lactation spaces. The nearest lactation rooms are located at Breazzano Family Center for Business Education (209 Dryden Road, Room 429) and Myron Taylor Hall (524 College Ave, Room 179). To learn more about these facilities and request access, please visit Cornell's lactation room website.

COVID-19: Please visit Cornell Health to learn about Cornell’s policy about COVID-19.

No Smoking: Smoking is not permitted anywhere inside the Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts. Please refrain from smoking within 25’ of building entrances.

Food and Drink: Food and drink are prohibited in all Schwartz Center theatres.

Late Seating: All performances begin promptly at the advertised curtain time. To ensure the enjoyment of our patrons and in deference to the performers, latecomers will be seated at an appropriate pause in the performance (at the discretion of the house manager). Latecomer seating is limited and not guaranteed.

Electronic Equipment: Electronic devices required for accessibility or medical purposes may remain on during performances. Any other electronic devices should be turned off/silenced when you enter the theatre. If your device needs to be on for an emergency, we ask that you exit the theatre to respond to a message. Please do not text in the theatre, as it is disruptive to other patrons and interferes with our sound system.

Cameras/recording devices: The use of cameras and/or recording devices is strictly prohibited by Actor’s Equity Association and Section 31:01 of the New York State Arts and Cultural Affairs Law. Unauthorized recording devices will be confiscated by the management.