ND to build new arts center
By HELENA RAYAM
News Writer
Plans are in progress to foster the University's performers and their audiences in a new performing arts center.
"It's something the University needed to round out its availability of space in the performing arts," said Jim Lyphout, associate vice president of business operations who oversees the planning of the center.
The Marie P. DeBartolo Center for the Performing Arts will house five venues for performances, according to Lyphout.
In addition to some offices and smaller rooms, the building will include a 900-seat concert hall, a 200-seat cinema, a 100-seat student theater, a 350-seat main stage theater and a 100-seat choral hall.
"It's going to be a very sophisticated building," said Lyphout.
The center will incorporate state-of-the-art technology, stadium seating and equipment to handle the sound disruptions that could occur from the various theaters.
The location of the DeBartolo Center for the Performing Arts will be south of the College of Business Administration and the Hesburgh Center at the far end of the DeBartolo quad.
The University recognized the need for a performing arts building several years ago when it reevaluated its colloquy. Since then, the University has raised funds and started to plan the construction of the building, a $51 million project.
"It's a very difficult task. We have a wide array of consultants on this project," said Lyphout.
The University is working with Hardy, Holzman, Pfeiffer Associates, an architecture company with offices in Los Angeles and New York. The main architect on the project is Norman Pfeiffer of the Los Angeles office.
This spring fences will surround the construction site. Construction will continue for several years, but according to Lyphout, "We're well underway."
All News Stories for Friday, March 3, 2000
