Center to unite arts divisions

By Kurt Esposito
Assistant Campus Editor

Even though all the money has not been collected and some of the rooms will initially be empty, construction of the new Visual and Performing Arts Center is on schedule.

David Sigman, head of the department of visual and performing arts, said construction is scheduled to be completed by 2005.

The estimated project budget is about $25.8 million. Because of a lack of funds, some rooms in the building will be empty; the rooms will have concrete floors but no lighting.

As a result, the building will be constructed in two phases. The first phase is underway and is scheduled to be completed by May 2003. The second phase — which will include completion of the empty rooms — is scheduled to be completed in 2005.

Until the second phase is complete, the studio theater, acting labs, theater support areas as well as the music, art education and theatre offices are without rooms.

Sigman said the department is in the process of the raising the $13 million necessary to complete the second phase.

The center will be located at the corner of Marsteller and Wood streets behind the Marsteller Street Garage. The exterior will feature a front with red brick and large glass panels. It will include facilities for all four divisions within the department: art and design, dance, music and theatre.

Richard Paul, chair of the division of art and design, said, "It's been a long time coming."

Sigman said the center will bring energy and synergy to a department whose facilities are currently divided among various buildings on campus including the Stewart Center, Lambert Fieldhouse and the Creative Arts buildings.

"We're just all very excited … about having the department all under one roof," he said.

Paul said everyone in the division is looking forward to move out of their facilities in Creative Arts Building 1.

The Creative Arts buildings will be demolished as soon as they are vacated, in 2003, to make room for a new engineering building.

The new building will have wireless technology, art and music studios and a small theater.

Plans have been made to install a sculpture titled "Transformation" in front of the building. The sculpture, a gift from the class of 1952, will stand 40 feet tall and symbolize a student's path through college as she grows as a person.

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Center to unite arts divisions

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(765) 743-1111 ext. 253

Campus editor: Laura Pelner

Assistant campus editors: Kurt Esposito, Dave Stephens

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