A growing student demand and community interest in the arts has inspired university administrators across the country — backed by local contributors — to sanction the construction of state-of-the-art performing arts centers for both students and local residents.

Mark Primoff, the director of communications for Bard College, said Bard needed the construction of the 110,000 square-foot Fisher Center, a performing arts venue to house the growing drama, dance and music departments and the Bard Music Festival. Six years ago, Bard contacted architect Frank Gehry, best known for his design of the Guggenheim Museum in Bibao, Spain.

“We needed a permanent structure,” Primoff said. “A performing arts center is typically not a pretty building.”

Primoff explained that most performing arts centers, usually located in cities, are rectangular in design because the shape provides better acoustic quality. Primoff said he thought Bard’s rural setting in Annandale-on-Hidson, N.Y., necessitated the creation of a beautiful performing arts center, accommodating the backdrop of rolling hills.

Since the Fisher Center’s opening in 2003, the attraction of its facilities have contributed to the growth of the summer arts program because the center has increased interest in professional performances, according to Primoff.

The Fisher Center was primarily funded by donations from the community and private philanthropists, and during the summer, the university receives funds from renting out the space for professional performances and community use.

The University of Denver’s Newman Center, a $70 million performing arts center in the heart of their campus, is already in its third season and is still attracting new student and community interest.

“We wanted to bring the music school back to the campus,” said Steve Seifert, executive director of the Newman Center.

Seifert said the previous music center was 14 miles away from the main campus, which generally prevented non-music majors from taking music classes. Seifert added that the Newman Center has drawn the campus and community together, allowing for an exchange of artistic talent.

“A great performing arts center allows everyone to perform better,” Seifert said.

Conceived by Denver architect Cab Childress, the Newman Center was designed to “serve the needs of the campus and the community,” Seifert said. Like most university performing arts centers, the Newman Center was primarily funded by outside donations.

Seifert also said the old music building enrolled 180 music students, and one year after the Newman Center opened, the music student enrollment reached 400.

The performing art centers are not only attracting community members, but potential students as well.

“The Newman Center filled a need for the community, allowing Denver groups to present their artistic ability,” Seifert said.

Students use the Newman Center for 30 percent of the academic year, and the space is rented to the community for the rest of the year for local use, including professional performance troupes, orchestras and art exhibits.

Seifert said that Denver University is trying to attract artists and performers from Boston, Chicago and other cities from across the country to bring artistic influence to the students and the community of Denver.

“Having a facility like this allows the university to give something back,” Seifert said.