September 2012 - October 2013
Description: The College of Music has had a longstanding need for an additional and acoustically appropriate venue to accommodate its numerous rehearsals, performances, classes and musical productions. The 560-seat Fairchild Theatre, located within the Auditorium at the intersection of Farm Lane and Auditorium Road, provides an adequately sized facility, but has limited effectiveness as a music venue due to the lack of of an orchestra pit and proper acoustics. Alterations to Fairchild Theatre and related spaces will enable improved and full use of this currently underutilized facility.
This project also includes the relocation of the Department of Theatre's scene shop, which is necessitated by the renovations to Fairchild Theatre. Programmatically, it will allow for the consolidation of the Music and Theatre scene shop needs and provide improvement of the scene shop working environment.
This project is anticipated to include:
- Installation of an orchestra pit with a lift system
- An orchestra shell with acoustical upgrades
- Relocation of the scene shop dressing room and prop storage room
- Renovation of existing, and construction of additional restrooms
- Barrier-free accessibility will expand access to the lower level of the building, Arena Theatre, upper balcony seating and second- and third-floor offices
- Installation of elevator
Impacts:
- Road closure: From the intersection of Physics and Auditorium Road west to Farm Lane mid-May through mid-June.
- Will require vehicular traffic to be detoured around the north side of the Psychology Building and for pedestrian traffic to be limited to one side of Auditorium Road.
- Construction work along the south side of the building will have periodic impact on the kiln area for the Kresge Art Center.
- These impacts will be short in duration and will be coordinated in advance with the associated departments.
- Several events normally held in the auditorium (such as spring commencement activities and Science Olympiad) will still be held.
Questions, comments, concerns?
Construction Representative: Todd Wilson, tdwilson@ipf.msu.edu, 517-432-4355