The planned construction will combine a 改造 of the school's existing Chapel into a state-of-the-art concert hall and gathering space with a subterranean arts annex facility, 为舞蹈提供新的练习和展示空间, 音乐, 和戏剧. 这个价值4千万美元的建筑项目是由 无限视野:艾玛威拉德学校的宣传活动而华莱士则以3000万美元作为首礼.

"Alice was devoted to the arts as a way to connect us and to express our shared humanity; we thank her for fueling our ambitions,该校校长饶洁在致辞中说. "This magnificent new space will nurture our most creative and innovative thinking in the arts and become a hub of our campus activity."

Amplifying and strengthening the school's historic strength in the arts is a key priority of Emma Willard's five-year strategic plan, 有目的的领导，以及 无限的地平线 该活动于2022年5月启动，为其提供资金. The new Center for Performing 艺术 will also help further position Emma Willard as a leader in cross-disciplinary instruction through physical and pedagogical connections between departments.

“在艾玛·威拉德, we have demonstrated the wisdom and efficiency of re-energizing historic spaces and introducing new purpose to underutilized space. We do the same with this project," said Lisa Allen LeFort '72, Chair of the 校董会. "This project will not only strengthen our facility and capacity but will help to re-engage alumnae and inspire them to return here to Mount Ida for performances, 聚会, 和专题讨论会."

The new construction will connect practice and performance spaces for dance, 音乐, 和戏剧 with those for visual and studio arts in the adjacent Snell-Dietel-Maguire building complex. Space is also planned for the entire Emma Willard orchestra to practice and perform, something long missing in the school's physical plant and much celebrated by arts faculty.

"We are particularly excited that the performing arts will have teaching and rehearsal spaces that are dedicated to each discipline,博士说. Debra Spiro Allen, Julia Howard Bush Instructor in 音乐 and chair of the arts department. “乐团终于有了自己的家, maintaining adjacency to our existing practice rooms and the Maguire Auditorium in the Snell 音乐 Building."

蒂姆·文斯蒂德, 校董会设施委员会联合主席, 代表委员会发言并赞扬合作伙伴 年建筑师 (原Ann Beha Associates)和 Consigli建设 for their collaboration in a "smart and historically sensitive 改造." Winstead highlighted the great lengths taken to preserve key building features such as the Noack pipe organ, 原始的铅和彩色玻璃窗, 以及支撑教堂天花板的木桁架. He also emphasized sustainability as a key part of the modernization process, 通过利用现有空间的组合实现, 改进的技术, 以及带有绿色屋顶的下层附属设施.

这个深思熟虑的建设计划, 改造, and historic preservation was designed by Ann Beha and her team at Annum, 前身是Ann Beha Associates. 特别对参加奠基仪式的学生们说, Beha encouraged them to engage with the construction crew that would forge the future of this campus.

“在接下来的几个月里, 你可能会经历架构上的颠覆, 足球波胆平台称之为进步,贝哈打趣道. “This building will not be made by machines; this is a building that will be made by people. I hope all students will have an opportunity to meet some of those people because they know what they are building for you is special. It would be special as a place for their own children and it’s very special as a place for you. And they will believe that because they are doing it you will go on to do something even greater.”


To learn more about the Alice Dodge Wallace '38 Center for Performing 艺术 and the 无限的地平线 活动,请访问: infintehorizon.org