Stouffer performing arts hub in works

The space once occupied by Stouffer Commons -- which closed its doors permanently as a dining hall more than a year ago -- may soon have new life breathed into it, thanks to plans for renovation. According to University officials, work on the former dining space next to the Quadrangle will begin this March so that by summer, it can accommodate offices for the college house system, which are currently located in the Hamilton Village high rises. Plans to transform the building's basement -- formerly known as Stouffer Down Under -- into a performing arts hub are also in the works, according to Student Performing Arts Coordinator Ty Furman. "We're very excited about this," Furman said. The proposed facility, which is still in the designing and fundraising stages, will be based on the models of the Kelly Writers House and Civic House to create a center for performing arts groups. The space will include a dance studio, theater and a cappella rehearsal rooms, lounge, band room and offices. Moving the college house offices is a necessary step in the ongoing renovation plans for the high rises. The former offices in the high rises "will be turned into student rooms, computer rooms and other spaces," Vice President for Facilities and Real Estate Services Omar Blaik said. "They will be an integral part of the house rather than having office space in a residential building." Performing arts groups have been using Stouffer's basement for rehearsals since last December, when University officials accepted the Performing Arts Council's and Undergraduate Assembly's proposal to do so. However, both the basement and main dining hall spaces have been left mostly unchanged since being used as a dining hall -- ovens and other kitchen equipment still remain. The renovations of the main dining hall, slated to become offices for the college house system, will cost an estimated $1 million, according to Blaik. The funding will come from part of the $80 million, six-year plan to renovate the high rises. But funding for transforming the basement of Stouffer into a performing arts space is still in the financial planning stages. "With a project of this magnitude, we need to get the funding in place," Furman said, adding that "it's a more than $2 million project, so we'll be doing some fundraising over the next year." Furman said that the Performing Arts Council is hoping to occupy the newly-designed space by fall 2004, but added that the date is still very tentative. Until construction begins, performing arts groups will continue to use the Stouffer basement space for rehearsals. "We can use it for four rehearsal spaces at any given time," Furman said. "All the tables and chairs are still there. We aren't that picky -- we just need open space." The former dining hall was forced to close when not enough students signed up for meal plans for the fall 2001 semester. Although several years ago administrators considered plans to demolish Stouffer Triangle as part of a $380 million University overhaul, those designs were abandoned in 1999. Instead, administrators opted to keep the building and spend a more modest amount on renovations.

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