Newswise — As Ursinus College continues to strengthen the arts in its liberal arts mission, a ceremonial groundbreaking is scheduled Friday, Aug. 22 for the College's new Performing Arts Center.
The advent of the center is significant, both to area residents and to the campus. The $25 million complex, which will bring events to the greater community and enhance the burgeoning arts program at the college, will be built on the northwest quadrant of the campus, next to the new Floy Lewis Bakes Field House. The 55,000-square-foot building will include spaces for an academic program in theater arts, as well as two theaters: a larger, 350-seat proscenium theater and a studio workshop theater with a flexible stage and moveable seating. Additionally, the Performing Arts Center will house a large rehearsal studio, wardrobe workroom, scene shop and storage area.
Over the last two years, a committee of faculty, staff and students met regularly with the architects as plans progressed from the conceptual to the schematic, design and development stages. Ursinus has engaged the nationally recognized firm Boston architectural firm Perry Dean Rogers, in association with Fisher Dachs, theater designers, of New York City. Warfel Construction of Allentown has been selected as the building contractor.
"The community will benefit by gaining a venue for stage productions, musical performances and cultural events," said Ursinus President John Strassburger.
Beyond the physical spaces, the new center will foster a spirit of community on campus. Student interest in the arts is flourishing and outgrowing existing facilities. In the past few years the number of student productions has doubled, with many being sold out. An art major was added last year. Last fall, more than 500 spectators from the campus and community attended the Ursinus Fringe Festival, which has annually presented acts from the Philadelphia Fringe Festival. The Philip and Muriel Berman Museum of Art on campus, and the music concerts in Bomberger Hall are also part of the arts program on campus and in the community.
"For Ursinus to continue to grow as a national liberal arts college," said Strassburger, "the college must offer a broader curriculum, and allow students to transcend their majors in a true liberal education. Additionally, we are enhancing our program in fine and performing arts to a level that will make Ursinus competitive with the most elite colleges." He added that students in all disciplines benefit from the arts. "The conclusion that modern liberal education requires more emphasis on the arts is becoming a national ideal, to fulfill the need to learn about other cultures, to know ourselves," he said.
The new center is the largest capital project included in a comprehensive fund raising campaign to be launched this fall by the College's Board of Trustees.
Ursinus College is a highly selective, independent coeducational liberal arts college located on a scenic, wooded 160-acre campus, 30 miles from Center City Philadelphia. The college is one of only 8 percent of U.S. Colleges to possess a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. It's web site is located at http://www.ursinus.edu.
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