In 1958 the Civic Auditorium Trustees built an annex to the auditorium. This new facility, built one block south of the auditorium, was needed to provide scene shop space.  It also provided a multi-purpose space that was used as a second performance area for experimental productions.  The building construction utilizes an elegant concrete barrel vault structural system.  The trustees honored their manager of 30 years, Norman Carver, by naming the facility after him.  The smaller, alternative performing space is currently used for shows by the Civic Arena Theatre, Civic Black Theatre and Kalamazoo Civic Youth Theatre groups, In a996 the Suzanne D. Parrish Theatre, an intimate, state-of-the art black box theatre, was constructed on the north side of the Carver Center.