"The primary goal was to fulfill the mission of the theater drama program as well as the black culture center," said Robert Meadows, Assistant Vice President for Facilities and the University Architect for the school. "Parallel to that is the need to have that building fit into the campus."
English slate was chosen for the exterior paving to welcome the public to the building. A total of 3,209 square feet of flamed Broughton Moor slate with 1?inch thickness and in widths of 8, 12 and 16 inches, with random lengths was supplied. It was quarried in Cumbria, England, by Burlington Slate, Ltd. and supplied through Burlington Natstone, Inc. of Plano, TX. Other exterior slate from Burlington includes 17 square feet of honed 3?inch-thick Broughton Moor slate for the base, 106 square feet of 2 1?inch-thick flamed Broughton Moor thresholds, and 235 square feet of 1 1?inch-thick flamed Broughton Moor flooring.