Biola University Cinema and Media Arts

The Cinema Media Arts Building will seamlessly integrate into the campus, enhancing student experiences through thoughtfully designed spaces that blend function and aesthetics. A welcoming reception area—its forms inspired by the optics of cinematography—will provide a dynamic transition between buildings, featuring lounge seating, dining tables, counter seating, and a potential coffee cart. The adjacent theater will connect to a sunken plaza with an amphitheater-style stage that doubles as casual seating, creating a flexible venue for campus events, including Biola’s annual film festival. At the heart of the theater spaces, a distinctive arrangement of palm trees will form a large ‘W,’ a special tribute requested by the donor to honor the classic film It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. Directly next to the indoor film studio, an adaptable outdoor backlot will serve as a hands-on space for students to experiment with staging, lighting, and set design, further enriching their creative exploration.