The University has announced plans to transform the basement level of Stouffer College House -- formerly known as Stouffer Down Under -- into a performing arts hub.
The performing arts center, designed on the models of the Kelly Writers House, Civic House and Weiss Technology House, will create 10,000 square feet of space for meetings, offices, rehearsals and lounges.
"We're thrilled," Student Performing Arts Coordinator Ty Furman said. "It's terrific to start this," he added, noting that the project has been in the planning stages for several years as students worked with administrators to identify student needs and draw up proposals.
Current plans call for construction to begin in winter 2004. After a projected seven to eight months of construction, administrators are hoping the facility will be open in time for the start of the 2004-2005 academic year.
And though fundraising for the estimated $2.5 million project is still underway, a significant gift of $500,000 has already been donated by the Mario Family Fund through fundraising by the Penn Band and Athletic Department.
The space will establish a headquarters for both the Penn Band and the 43 student-run performance groups affiliated with the Performing Arts Council, which entails more than 1,200 students involved in theater, dance, singing and comedy.
The former Stouffer Dining Hall was closed when too few students signed up for meal plans for the fall 2001 semester.
Since that time, the space has been used by some performing arts groups for rehearsals, but has remained mostly unchanged.
Recently, two departments once housed in Hamilton College House -- Housing and Conference Services and the College Houses and Academic Services-- moved into newly renovated offices in the former dining hall to allow for continued renovations in the high rise to take place this summer.
And now, the adjacent space will see new life.
"The reason why the hub is so important to the performing arts community is because we don't really have one place for everyone to come together," said Rose Muravchick, a College junior who served as communications coordinator for PAC and has been involved in the project's planning.
"The hub gives... a central location for everyone to share what they're involved in right now," she said.
Though some groups requiring larger spaces will continue to rehearse at other locations around campus, the new facility will offer students several rehearsal areas. In addition, a bank of computers, dance studios, sound equipment, offices and lounge spaces are planned for the hub.
And though the facility will take PAC away from its current central location in the ARCH Building on Locust Walk, those involved with performing arts say the new spot will still provide an accessible location.
"The thought was that [the location] might actually help because we'll be right by the Quad, so in terms of new students getting information and getting help, we'll still be pretty central," Furman said.
