The Performing Arts Center Phase II
Completing the Vision
The spotlight feature of the proposed Performing Arts Center Phase II will be a large proscenium theatre (850-seats) capable of hosting the University’s theatrical productions as well as any major national touring company production. Phase II will offer unprecedented access to the finest performing troupes in the nation. Just as Larson Memorial Auditorium has encouraged the world’s finest musicians to comment on the acoustics and design of the facility, so too will Phase II’s proscenium theatre offer a similar experience.
The completion of this facility will provide national touring companies a location where they can offer performances that Brookings area residents would otherwise have to travel to major cities to enjoy. No longer will our neighbors have to drive to Sioux Falls, Minneapolis or Omaha for the finest productions of musicals and Broadway shows. Most importantly, students will enjoy the finest theatrical facilities in which to hone their own skills. The greater Brookings community will have yet another facility that meets the expectations of a growing region and cultural hub. Phase II will be the opportunity for South Dakota State University to inspire and to truly raise the human spirit.
Moving Forward
Thanks to a leadership commitment of $2,000,000 by an anonymous donor; the planning and design work will soon begin on Phase II of the Performing Arts Center. While the design committee has yet to be established, the administration and faculty of the theatre and music programs have identified two distinct segments needed to complete the facility.
The two segments to complete the vision are:
- Proscenium Theatre, and Communication Studies and Theatre Department Offices
- Music Department, Recital Hall, Rehearsal Spaces and Studios
Proscenium Theatre, Communication Studies & Theatre Offices
- 850-seat theatre consisting of 11,050 sq. ft. equipped with all necessary rigging, flys, and scene and stage storage for the extensive set archives of the University. The estimated cost per sq. ft. is $420 for a projected cost in 2008 dollars of $11.8 million.
- 14,917 sq. ft. of theatre support spaces necessary for professional and collegiate theatrical productions. This includes a formal lobby entrance to the proscenium theatre that complements the Roberts Reception Hall of Phase I. The estimated cost per sq. ft. is $420 for a projected cost in 2008 dollars of $6.3 million.
- 8,214 sq. ft. of academic, administrative and faculty office space to reunite the Department of Communication Studies & Theatre at an estimated cost per sq. ft. of $244 for a projected cost in 2008 dollars of $2.0 million.
$12 Million: Music Department, Rehearsal Spaces, Studios
The Music Department currently uses 40,000 gross sq. ft. Construction in Phase II, at $244 per sq. ft., would accommodate the spaces below.
- Recital Space (The original architect’s rendering lists a space as “recital” but this is not a Recital Hall. There will need to be an additional Recital Hall constructed.)
- Instrumental Rehearsal Space
- Choral Rehearsal Space
- 18 Faculty Offices Used as Private Instructional Studios
- Two Academic Classrooms
- Computer Lab
- Recording/Listening Laboratory
- 20 Soundproof Practice Rooms
Upon completion, students and faculty in the Music Department will enjoy facilities that meet guidelines for sound and facility standards established by the National Association of Schools of Music. Audiences at recitals and community children who study music in the private studios of the music faculty will all benefit from facilities built specific to the needs of music performance and instruction.
An Opportunity to Make a Difffference and Complete the Vision
Moving forward with Phase II of the Performing Arts Center requires significant vision and commitment. It is an exciting opportunity to secure the future for both the Departments of Music and Communication Studies & Theatre. Even more exciting is the opportunity to assure a commitment for Brookings and the region as a hub for culture. This project offers potential for SDSU to attract private investors to support this project either in simultaneous or sequential phases. It is not a question of whether the project should go forward or whether it can, it is simply a matter of how quickly. The project is right, the need is significant, and the time is now.
For more information about Giving Opportunities for the Performing Arts Center Phase II, please contact:
Rina Reynolds
Development Director
Rina.Reynolds@sdsufoundation.org
Toll-free: (888) 747-SDSU
Local: (605) 697-7475
Mobile: (605) 695-7378