Nearly a year after WestConn formally announced plans for a state-of-the-art performing and fine arts center, Gov. M. Jodi Rell last week put money for the project in her state budget proposal.
Rell has recommended spending $3.3 million in fiscal year 2006, which starts July 1. That money would pay for the architect's design of the building.
The rest of the money for the project — $66 million — would come to the school in fiscal 2007, if the legislature approves the expenditure.
The center, to be built on WestConn's west side campus in Danbury, could be completed as early as 2008.
The vision calls for art studios, music practice rooms, a theater, concert hall and classrooms for the music, art and theater departments to be under one roof instead of spread around campus.
"This gives us a sense of place for the fine and performing arts,'' said Eugene Buccini, WestConn's vice president for academic affairs. "Here we could have a theater and concert hall holding several events at the same time that could draw people over and over again.
"This building is going to be a catalyst," Buccini said.
The state Department of Public Works would manage the construction project. But WestConn's engineering department and faculty already have created a "recipe" for the building, such as the number of art studios and classrooms and the size of the theater and concert hall.
"We want a building that is commensurate with the faculty goals and inspiration. We have exemplary faculty. It's nice to have the state make a commitment to our programming,'' said Thomas Carlone, WestConn's director of planning and engineering.
The public works department and the university are in the process of selecting an architect. Carlone said only firms that have designed two higher education performing arts facilities within the last five years are eligible.
"The state of Connecticut has a lot of priorities,'' Carlone said. WestConn President James Schmotter "has done a good job bringing heightened awareness of the need for the facility and explaining why it is important."
Sal Trapani, a theater arts professor and associate department chair, said he has heard about the need for a new fine and performing arts building since his arrival on campus 13 years ago. "We're very excited about it," he said.
"The music, art and theater departments have done so many events on and off campus. We have internationally known artists on our faculty," he said. "We really deserve and need this. This will establish the campus as a cultural center.''
The theater department has about 50 undergraduate students and would double that number with a larger facility.
Trapani said his department has looked at expanding its programs by offering majors in theater arts management, musical theater, design technology and drama studies. Some of the courses would be offered in conjunction with other WestConn schools and departments — including the Ancell School of Business, the English department and the graphic design and music departments.
Abe Echevarria, chair of the art department for 10 years before stepping down this year, called building the proposed center "the right thing to do for this university."
"It's going to afford us a place of creativity and collaboration between our partners in other departments," Echevarria said.
The art department has about 174 students enrolled in four art majors, graphic design, illustration, fine arts and photography.
WestConn started a master of fine arts program about three years ago and has more students than similar programs in the other three state universities combined.
The new facility could allow further expansions in the department. "I think of something like this as a beacon for the campus,'' Echevarria said.
Contact Eileen FitzGerald at eileenf@newstimes.com or (203) 731-3333.