By Amanda Smith and Zoe Finholm\/\/<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Repairs to Brodbeck Music Hall, which was struck by lightning in 2021, continue and the college still hopes to reopen it in fall of 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Robert Klinedinst, the vice president for Finance, the college needs to finish construction documents and begin the bidding process for the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe might start construction this summer or it might be early fall,\u201d Klinedinst said. \u201cWe also have to really finalize how much the insurance will cover and how much we need to fundraise for, but the project is moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Klinedinst said the total cost of a project is hard to calculate because it consists of many different factors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere is the construction cost that you pay a contractor to do the renovations,\u201d Klinedinst said. \u201cBut there\u2019s other project-related costs: architecture and engineering fees, furniture, IT, communications, all kinds of other construction-related fees.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A large majority of the reconstruction cost will be covered by the college\u2019s property insurance. The architects working on the project are conscious of the building\u2019s history and are trying to restore it to its original state, Klindinst said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve just finished the design development phase, we\u2019ve gotten some pricing from the contractors for the construction cost, it\u2019s in the $5-to-6-million range,\u201d Klinedinst said. However, Klinedinst stated that the total will be even greater due to additional architectural and abatement costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After the building was struck by lightning, the music classes and rehearsals were moved to the Coffman Chapel. \u201cWorking in the Chapel continues to be a challenge, especially as student interest in music lessons and ensembles is still on the rise,\u201d said Noel Verzosa, chair of the music department. \u201cWe\u2019ve done a better job of coordinating our activities with those of other departments, partly because lots of people have been making various sacrifices and concessions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It has taken a lot of flexibility to ensure that the music ensembles have a place to rehearse, he said. The yoga group has adjusted their schedule, the Rev. Beth O\u2019Malley has made the meditation room available for rehearsals, and Verzosa has given up his office on Thursdays and Fridays so it can be used for lessons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Verzosa said it is \u201cunfortunate\u201d regarding the timing of the reopening of Brodbeck and the closing of the music major. \u201cThe new building will make our musical activities that much more attractive,\u201d Verzosa said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Verzosa said the most recent blueprints include more individual practice rooms to make up for the ones lost by the pending demolition of Carson Cottage, instrument storage spaces, and the auditorium, which is the only space on campus designated for musical performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe reopening of Brodbeck will also mean the return of our pianos, most of which have been collecting dust in a storage facility for the past year and a half,\u201d Verzosa said. \u201cThis is just not enough to accommodate our piano students, our voice students, the jazz ensemble and all our music theory students.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Verzosa said, \u201cI think everyone in the Chapel, both within and outside the Music Department, is eager to see music return to Brodbeck.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"