|
 It’s
been 20 years since Western administrators and professors began to
think about constructing a building to house theater, art and music
programs on campus.
This fall, workers finally will break ground on the $80 million
building, scheduled to open in 2014 with a 337-seat concert hall, a
330-seat theater, design studios and an art gallery.
For the first time, acting students, painters and graphic artists,
musicians and singers will gather in one location designed for their
needs.
While WCSU is already known for its art and performance programs —
Western is the only one of the four Connecticut State Universities
with a School for Visual and Performing Arts — the hope is that the
new building will have the same effect as the Science Building that
opened in 1995. Since then, the number of science majors at Western
has increased more than 50 percent.
The building, which will rise on the Westside campus, also will
provide opportunities for philanthropy.
Plans are being developed for patrons to name the building, its
facilities and even the seats in the theaters.
As Sal Trapani, chair of the Theater Arts Department, said the day
the financing for the building was announced, “It’s really, really,
really exciting. This is a banner day. It’s fantastic!”
|
