Page 23 - Priorities #19 2002-July

Housing Is Poised For Take-Off— Attention Turns to Performing Arts
Construction is ready to begin on the seven-unit Maas Family Commons on-campus housing. Althoughsomefinalworkremainstobedoneonthebusinessside,the Campaign Leadership Team subcommittee on housing can now begin the pleasurable task of arranging recognition for the generous donors who made these housing units possible.
Recognition of all the key participants, especially donors and volunteers, will be part of the annual Appreciation Dinner set for September 2002.
Now, attention can turn to the next major project—the Performing Arts Center. If all goes according to schedule, the first performance could be held on the Priory’s new stage in 2005.
The big pieces of this project are already in place. Trustee Al Ebneter has already spent some two years in discussions and design revisions. He has completed a preliminary, detailed construction plan (modifications are still expected). It shows all of the major pieces of the new facility. Here are a few highlights:
• A lobby suitable for small receptions and with a permanent gallery for displaying student visual arts
• A theater with a stage, professional lighting and acoustics, and comfortable, tiered seating for 450. When the tiers are retracted, the theater seats 530 for graduations, Community Forum and other, similar events. Without seating, the floor is appropriate for teaching dance as well as holding school dances.
• Separate classrooms for drama, choral music and instrumental music, with appropriate practice rooms, storage and tech shop. The drama classroom will be outfitted for little theater presentations.
This building is also the crucial first part of a three-stage plan that will permit a larger library/tech center, a student activities center, and additional classrooms throughout the campus.
Students Jill Simon and Angela Sibal, Class of 2002, took Al’s drawings and created a scale model with the help of a computer-aided design program that they learned to use in their architecture class.
Parent Jacinto Avalos asked his architecture firm to create a poster-sized, visually attractive, color rendering of the floor plan. The scale model, floor plan, detailed construction drawings, architect’s sketch and several posters highlighting student creativity were featured at pre-performance receptions on the campus on May 17 and 18, and a third reception held in conjunction with the Spring Concert and Spring Art Exhibit on May 22.
More informational events are planned throughout the coming academic year— stay tuned and perhaps you will be inspired to join the campaign to support Priory students’ creativity in the performing arts.
—C. Dobervich
Students Jill Simon and Angela Sibal worked fast to create a scale model of the Performing Arts Center before the end of the school year.
23
...for NOW and our NEXT
50
years!
Maas Family Commons:
• Ready for Construction!
Performing Arts Center: • Almost $3 million
already pledged • $3 million needed
in 2002-3
• $1.6 million needed
in 2003-4