Fine Arts Center Renovation Updates
FAC Renovation Update - July 29, 2009
by Bert Polman, Music Department Chair &
FAC Renovation Committee Co-Chair
As I write this brief report, excavation has begun along the east side of the FAC, to prepare for the two-storey new wing that will be built there for use by the English Department and the Music Department. Much of the demolition of spaces inside the FAC is already accomplished, and some work has begun on the west side of the building to prepare for the addition of the Art Gallery, the 240-seat Recital Hall, and the much-expanded west lobby and box office. Most recently a decision was made to get entirely new seating for the FAC, and to recycle the fabric, foam, and metal materials of the old seats.
For those of you interested, you can see the latest developments, read progress reports and follow the renovation of the Fine Arts Center as it happens. Here are a few highlights from the tentative timeline provided by Rockford, the construction company:
September 2009: leveling the floors of the music department rehearsal rooms 101 and 125
October 2009: prepare to see the first metal beams at the FAC grounds
March 2010: construction of the new Recital Hall
May 2010: painting will begin
August 2010: finish carpentry
A series of dedication events for the new Covenant Fine Arts Center is being planned for later in October of 2010 to coincide with the Parents Weekend and our annual Fall Music Festival. These events will include the opening of the Art Gallery and the Fall Music Festival.
FAC Renovation Update - April 14, 2009
by Bert Polman, Music Department Chair &
FAC Renovation Committee Co-Chair
As I write this, the Calvin authorities are pouring over the contractors' bids for the expansion and refit of the FAC; they hope to nail down a final contract in the next week. The current schedule calls for all occupants of the FAC to be out of the building by the end of May. The English faculty and staff will move to the Surge Building on the east campus; most of the Music faculty and staff and the Campus Events staff will move into what is currently the Development Office in the Spoelhof Center, while the remaining Music faculty will occupy office-studios in the Timmer and Heyns residence halls. Music and English classrooms will be relocated throughout campus during the 2009-2010 school year, and Gezon Auditorium will become an important rehearsal hall for our orchestra and bands. Next year's concerts and recitals will be held in a variety of locations off-campus, including the DeVos Center for Arts and Worship at Grand Rapids Christian High School and the Performing Arts Center at East Grand Rapids High School, as well as some area churches.
We invite you to attend the Gala Concert on May 9 to celebrate some 40 yrs of the Fine Arts Center's service to the Calvin community. The concert will feature the Calvin Orchestra, Capella, Campus Choir as well as the Calvin Alumni Orchestra. By that time there should be contractor trailers in the FAC parking lot and construction should have begun. Much of the interior of the FAC will get a refit, including improved acoustic features in the main auditorium. The East Beltline side of the building will get a new two-story wing for Music and English, while the west side of the FAC will see the additions of a new art gallery and a 240 seat recital hall. Though we won't know for sure until an actual contractor is chosen, the expected completion date is late summer of 2010. We hope to re-occupy the building for classes that fall. Rededication ceremonies for the Covenant Fine Arts Center are being planned to coincide with the annual Fall Music Festival in later October.
FAC Renovation Update - January 2009
by Bert Polman, Music Department Chair &
FAC Renovation Committee Co-Chair
Plans for the exciting renovation and expansion of the FAC are coming along well. The main architectural drawings are done, but a lot of technical detail (plumbing, heating, electric, communications, and acoustic treatment) is still being added. We expect that bids will be let in the early spring and that construction will commence by late April in the FAC perimeter and by late May inside the actual building. Given that the entire FAC will be shut down during June 2009 until September 1, 2010, a busy committee has been making plans for the relocation of the multitude of events that happen ordinarily in the FAC. This involves offices and classes for the English and music departments, all rehearsals, all teaching studios and practice rooms, in addition to finding alternate venues for concerts, the January series, Worship Symposium, films, lectures, conferences, etc., as well as relocating the campus events staff and the Calvin box office, the ensemble libraries, the costume shop, Knollcrest Music Camp, etc. What seemed like an impossibly daunting task at first, now looks more manageable, with the goodwill and help from various officials around the campus and at Grand Rapids Christian High School. Most of the music faculty will have offices in the Spoelhof Center. The music department will make much use of the Gezon Auditorium for ensemble rehearsal space and will also have access to various dormitory rooms (especially in Timmer Hall) and the current Health Center for use as teaching studios and practice rooms (as the Health Center will relocate this coming summer to the new Spoelhof Fieldhouse Complex). We'll continue to mount various performances in the Calvin Chapel, the Calvin Seminary Chapel, as well as various off-campus venues. We'll keep you posted via a website linked to the music department website once the construction has begun. Thank God for generous donors to this project, and pray for good progress as the actual construction begins!
FAC Renovation Update - September 2008
by Bert Polman, Music Department Chair &
FAC Renovation Committee Co-Chair
Exciting plans are underway for a major renovation and addition to Calvin’s Fine Arts Center, the center for music events on campus since 1966. Plans include a completely remodeled FAC Auditorium, the addition of a new music wing (for faculty and staff offices), a new recital hall, a new art gallery, large lobby space, as well as additional classrooms, teaching studios and practice rooms. Stay tuned for more details about this exciting new chapter for Calvin’s music department!
FAC Renovation Update - Summer 2008
Read the Spark article - Polishing a Gem: Fine Arts Center to get a makeover