The School of Music currently provides music education for approximately 250 music majors, plus numerous music minors, practice needs and community involvement, in total serving over 3,500 students annually. The growth in the undergraduate program will need to accommodate at least 100 additional music majors (total of 450 music majors) and the establishment of a graduate program. As well, metro-area professionals and community groups need quality and appropriately scaled performance space, currently lacking in the area.
 

The design for the School of Music Expansion project adds 183,000 gross square feet to meet ever-growing needs and future school expansion goals. This includes 114,000 SF of music education-related space plus 69,000 SF for a 1,100-seat performance theater. The larger area required for the performance theater is due to the educational nature of the back of house spaces which include sizable areas for costume and prop storage as well as major costume and prop creation to support the numerous educational performances and teaching activities needed as part of the overall music education, rehearsal and recital/ performance functions.
 

Design through-out the expansion creates spaces for collaboration among teaching and student staff inside and out. One such space is the student plaza created to address several challenges the students face traversing the spread out nature of school of music campus with their instruments. The plaza creates an open multi-use space and separates the back of house service yard area from pedestrian travel.