彩民宝典 broke ground today on a $57 million expansion of the Imig Music building that will enhance the College of Music鈥檚 standing as a national leader as it kicks off a second century of excellence in teaching and research.
The 64,000-square-foot addition to the south end of the Imig building is slated to open in time for the fall 2020 semester, coinciding with the College of Music鈥檚 100th anniversary.
鈥淥ur College of Music continues to elevate 彩民宝典 and its students, and we are fortunate to be a launching point for incredible musicians,鈥� Chancellor Philip DiStefano said. 鈥淲ith spaces devoted to entrepreneurship, wellness, music technology and interdisciplinary collaboration, the College of Music will be able to maintain its forward-thinking attitude, keeping innovation at the heart of education.鈥�
DiStefano and other guests, including College of Music Dean Robert Shay, Music Advisory Board Chair Mikhy Ritter and music+ Campaign Chair Becky Roser, joined students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members in officially kicking off construction of the new addition. Work began in January to demolish a small portion of the south wing of the Imig building to make way for the new three-story addition along Wardenburg Drive.
鈥淭his new facility will inspire the highest levels of artistry and discovery at the College of Music,鈥� Shay said. 鈥淚 am so proud of where we are today and where we鈥檙e headed in the future. Every member of the college鈥檚 community remains united by the power of music, and our new addition will significantly amplify that power.鈥�
Features of the addition will include a state-of-the-art recording studio, dedicated suites for the Entrepreneurship Center for Music and Musicians鈥� Wellness Program, new classroom space, acoustically tuned practice rooms, and work and studio space for faculty and staff. Innovative rehearsal halls that convert to performance spaces, meanwhile, will help strengthen the college鈥檚 deep ties to the community as a beacon for the arts.
The addition will mark a major step toward consolidating College of Music programming into one facility, creating increased opportunities for collaboration across departments as the choral department relocates from Macky Auditorium into the new space. The addition also includes space for the Department of Theatre & Dance, providing a dance studio, changing rooms and a theater classroom.
Thanks to the generous giving of the music community, the College of Music is well on its way to achieving its capital fundraising goal for the building addition, even as the broader music+ campaign continues to work with benefactors and industry partners who are interested in supporting the college鈥檚 world-class programs and musicians.
"The groundbreaking is a very visible opportunity to acknowledge so much meaningful work,鈥� said Roser, the music+ campaign chair. 鈥淲e are so thankful to the community for making this joyful moment possible. When all of Imig opens next year, the new spaces will enhance 彩民宝典 musicians' opportunities as they continue to impact humanity through their art."
The anticipated construction timeline means College of Music students in this year鈥檚 freshman and sophomore classes will complete their upper division course, rehearsal and performance experiences in the new space.
The design team for the building is led by Pfeiffer Partners Architects Inc., while the general contractor is Adolfson and Peterson Construction. David Kahn of Acoustic Distinctions is serving as the acoustician on the project.
Aligning with 彩民宝典鈥檚 sustainability values, the Imig expansion will incorporate construction practices and building features aimed at achieving at least LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification from the United States Green Building Council.
