Eddy Groundbreaking Ceremony Set for May 7
Extensive renovations to Alma College’s Eddy Music Center, including the construction of a 5,000-square-foot building addition, officially begin this spring with a groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for noon Friday, May 7.
Trustees, administrators, faculty members, students and alumni will join President Saundra Tracy for the ceremony. The public is welcome.
The $1.8 million project, funded by a combination of gifts and the sale of bonds, reflects the growth of Alma’s vocal and instrumental music programs, says Alma College Provost Michael Selmon. A $1 million fund-raising goal has been set.
“It has been apparent for quite some time that we have outgrown Eddy,” says Selmon. “If you stroll through the building during peak times, you will find percussionists practicing in hallways, instruments jammed in practice rooms, and generally cramped conditions. Our students and music faculty need more space for teaching, practice and instrumental storage, as well as comfortable areas for people to meet and relax. “
Renovations to the existing 10,000-square-foot Eddy Music Center will include moving interior walls to transform small practice rooms into larger studios, adding offices, and removing instruments from the large rehearsal space so that ensembles can practice more comfortably.
The new addition, to be built between Eddy and the Swanson Academic Center, will contain several practice rooms, a new recording studio, faculty offices, instrumental storage space, and a highly visible front lobby with a rounded glass front facing northwest into McIntyre Mall. The lobby will be large enough for hosting receptions and greeting campus visitors.
The Eddy building, opened in 1975, was the first campus building devoted exclusively to the teaching of music. Student participation in Alma’s major vocal and instrumental ensembles have more than doubled since then.
Plans are to complete the renovations to the existing building by the time fall classes begin in September, with the building addition completed by the end of December.
Posted: Wed, April 28th, 2010 at 5:15PM
