Long awaited funds arrive
Governor Pat Quinn agrees to fund the construction of a new Performing Arts Center at Western
Ken Woods
Issue date: 7/22/09 Section: News
Governor Pat Quinn's recent approval of $67.8 million for the construction of a new Performing Arts Center on the Western Illinois University campus marks the beginning of the end of a long, tedious journey.
The idea of erecting a building that would be dedicated to the performing arts dates back to the early 1970s and only became a reality after years of lobbying by a succession of Western administrators and supporters.
In 2002, a Western Courier article observed that "plans for a new performing arts center at Western Illinois University have been around for approximately 20 years, and are now beginning to take shape."
One of the earliest attempts to gain support for a performing arts center kicked off in May 1976 when performer Burl Ives conducted a benefit concert on campus to raise money and awareness about the need for such a facility.
At the time, supporters said the center was needed because the campus did not have a facility large enough, nor the proper acoustics for major theater productions or large scale concert performances
The effort didn't initially move forward after the Illinois Board of Higher Education voiced opposition to the proposal.
More recently, however, the Board of Higher Education has endorsed the need for a performing arts center at Western and recommended funding in the school's annual budgets.
Plans for the building picked up steam after 2001, when Western President Al Goldfarb appointed a committee to determine the university's need for a performing arts center. Consisting of students, faculty, staff and community members, the group met for a semester to discuss size, location and other specifics.
"President Goldfarb has tried to involve . . . Western, Macomb and surrounding communities, giving them a single place to access arts functions," Bill Brewer, assistant Director Physical Plant Facilities Planning and Construction told the Courier in 2002.
In 2002, the state awarded $4 million to Western for planning the facility but did not commit construction funding. The Chicago architectural firm of O'Donnell, Wicklund, Pigozzi and Peterson (OWP/P), along with Pelli Clark Pelli (PCP) of New Haven, Conn., were selected to design and plan the project.
On July 13, Governor Quinn signed a statewide construction plan that included funding for the performing arts center.
Groundbreaking for the 120,000 square foot building, which will have three theaters, is tentatively scheduled next summer, according to Paul Kreider, dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication.
"After 30 months of construction our new Performing Arts Center will open, giving our outstanding students and faculty a facility worthy of their talents," Kreider said.
In addition to funding for the performing arts building, which will be located adjacent to Browne Hall, Western will also receive $3.2 million for capital renewal, which includes campus building maintenance and classroom enhancements.
The construction plan also provides $15.8 million for the renovation and construction of Building 1 at the WIU Quad Cities Riverfront Campus as well as $42 million for Phase II.
The idea of erecting a building that would be dedicated to the performing arts dates back to the early 1970s and only became a reality after years of lobbying by a succession of Western administrators and supporters.
In 2002, a Western Courier article observed that "plans for a new performing arts center at Western Illinois University have been around for approximately 20 years, and are now beginning to take shape."
One of the earliest attempts to gain support for a performing arts center kicked off in May 1976 when performer Burl Ives conducted a benefit concert on campus to raise money and awareness about the need for such a facility.
At the time, supporters said the center was needed because the campus did not have a facility large enough, nor the proper acoustics for major theater productions or large scale concert performances
The effort didn't initially move forward after the Illinois Board of Higher Education voiced opposition to the proposal.
More recently, however, the Board of Higher Education has endorsed the need for a performing arts center at Western and recommended funding in the school's annual budgets.
Plans for the building picked up steam after 2001, when Western President Al Goldfarb appointed a committee to determine the university's need for a performing arts center. Consisting of students, faculty, staff and community members, the group met for a semester to discuss size, location and other specifics.
"President Goldfarb has tried to involve . . . Western, Macomb and surrounding communities, giving them a single place to access arts functions," Bill Brewer, assistant Director Physical Plant Facilities Planning and Construction told the Courier in 2002.
In 2002, the state awarded $4 million to Western for planning the facility but did not commit construction funding. The Chicago architectural firm of O'Donnell, Wicklund, Pigozzi and Peterson (OWP/P), along with Pelli Clark Pelli (PCP) of New Haven, Conn., were selected to design and plan the project.
On July 13, Governor Quinn signed a statewide construction plan that included funding for the performing arts center.
Groundbreaking for the 120,000 square foot building, which will have three theaters, is tentatively scheduled next summer, according to Paul Kreider, dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication.
"After 30 months of construction our new Performing Arts Center will open, giving our outstanding students and faculty a facility worthy of their talents," Kreider said.
In addition to funding for the performing arts building, which will be located adjacent to Browne Hall, Western will also receive $3.2 million for capital renewal, which includes campus building maintenance and classroom enhancements.
The construction plan also provides $15.8 million for the renovation and construction of Building 1 at the WIU Quad Cities Riverfront Campus as well as $42 million for Phase II.
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