With its innovative and vibrant performance spaces and studios, the University of Central Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 new Performing Arts Center was the star of a focus breakfast Wednesday in downtown Orlando.
The center’s first phase, which opened this fall, enhances the academic experience for students in the performing arts with multiple teaching studios and voice rooms, an electro-acoustic music lab, percussion ensemble rooms and a recording studio.
Its second phase, which will be funded by private donations, will host first-class theatre and music performances for UCF and the surrounding communities to enjoy.
麻豆精品 S淲e have been an excellent partner to arts organizations throughout the area, 麻豆精品 S� UCF President John C. Hitt told guests at the Ballroom at Church Street. 麻豆精品 S淣ow it is time for that commitment to the performing arts to be expressed on our own great campus. 麻豆精品 S�
The new space will not only help with recruiting future artists, but also will drive Central Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 economy. Recent estimates report that Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 nonprofit arts and cultural organizations generated about $2.8 billion in direct spending in 2007 and another $3.4 billion from indirect spending, which translated into about 73,000 jobs statewide.
麻豆精品 S淎t UCF, we understand the contribution that our great state university can make to the economic well-being of our Central Florida city-state, 麻豆精品 S� President Hitt said.
In addition to adding economic value, the arts contribute to Central Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 cultural vitality and help communities better understand the human experience.
During Wednesday 麻豆精品 S檚 breakfast, Board of Trustees Chair Rick Walsh also paid tribute to the university 麻豆精品 S檚 founding president, Charles Millican, who died Dec. 1.
麻豆精品 S淐harlie loved the theatre and musical performances, 麻豆精品 S� he said. 麻豆精品 S淚n fact, one of his and Frances 麻豆精品 S� favorite nights of the year was a special performance by the UCF orchestra alongside the fountain behind Millican Hall. 麻豆精品 S�
UCF is one of only a few universities in the country to have a theatre lighting lab where students can learn the skills necessary to light everything from a theatrical production to a rock 麻豆精品 S榥 麻豆精品 S� roll show.
The second phase of the Performing Arts Center will feature a 600-seat concert hall and two theaters with 520 and 225 seats respectively, as well as costume, scene and prop shops.
麻豆精品 S淭he UCF Performing Arts Center will help students in Music and Theatre achieve their dreams by learning, rehearsing and performing on stages equal to all the great stages where their dreams take place, 麻豆精品 S� Walsh said.
Walsh also praised the new center 麻豆精品 S檚 customized spaces for UCF Music and Theatre students.
麻豆精品 S淓ach room is built differently based on its acoustic needs, and indeed the building itself is tuned to allow those who come through it to experience the life and energy within, 麻豆精品 S� he said. 麻豆精品 S淓verything from the floor to angles of the walls is constructed for the artists who will use them. 麻豆精品 S�
The Performing Arts Center is designed to have a small carbon footprint with abundant natural lighting. UCF is seeking silver-level Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, the widely accepted benchmark for buildings that are environmentally friendly and healthy for occupants.
For more information on the center and how to donate to its second phase, visit http://foundation.cah.ucf.edu/pac.php.