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A preview of the new west entrance planned for the expanded and remodeled Communication Arts Building at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside is depicted in this architectural drawing. ( KENOSHA NEWS PHOTO BY courtesy of UW-Parkside )
The pride of Parkside
Remodeling project will benefit students, community
Published
BY BILL GUIDA
bguida@kenoshanews.com
The $34 million project to expand and enhance the Communication Arts building at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside will benefit more than students.
“It’s a place where the community can come together. And it’s a place where the community can take its mind off its troubles.”
Ground was broken last week for the project, which will include remodeling the building and adding to it. Highlights include a new concert hall, new and remodeled instruction labs, a new multipurpose music rehearsal and performance space and classrooms.
And according to Cress, it’s a project that is sorely needed.
“Basically, you’ve got people right now using rooms that are crummy for what they are being asked to do,” he said.
“The quality of the ambience and performances will be much better because the spaces are being designed for it from the ground up.”
Specifically, musicians will have an acoustically designed concert hall; art students will have better space for exhibitions, and theater students will have a new small theater and more space for costumes and set design, Cress said.
When the project is finished, Cress envisions Parkside as a destination for aficionados of the arts.
“Right now, if you look at the area between South Milwaukee and well into Illinois, you don’t have a performing arts theater that really has good sound. I think this is going to stand out as a magnet,” he said.
“The community will be able to go to a theater with really good acoustics, nice ambience, a new facility to see smaller-venue plays, art galleries built for (professional and student) exhibitions from the start.
“The kids do a good job. I’ve seen them perform. I’ve seen their artwork. They deserve a good venue. And the public deserves a nice venue to view their artwork and hear them perform. So, I think this is a good benefit all the way around.”
Paying for it
The project, originally tabbed at $45 million, was scaled back to $34 million, with some parking and road work pulled out, according to Lenny Klaver, vice chancellor for university relations at Parkside.
As part of the project, Parkside was expected to raise private donations of approximately 10 percent. Klaver said that amount also was reduced, to about $2 million.
Klaver said about $950,000 has been raised so far, including a $500,000 gift from retired music professor Frances Bedford.
“In a nutshell, we’re in an effort to raise $1 million more that goes toward this project,” Klaver said.
Mequon businessman Darsha Dahliwhal pledged $4.5 million to the project, but then declared bankruptcy. Klaver said Dahliwhal’s initial payment of $450,000 is already in the bank, but the rest is in limbo.
“If his ship goes in a good financial direction again, then we hope ... he’ll continue to make his pledge payments,” Klaver said. “He was very sincere when he made his pledge, and no one is hurting more in this situation than he is.”
Klaver said he is confident the university can raise the needed funds.
“We have good indicators we’re going to finish this campaign successfully,” he said.
“The interest in the arts remains particularly strong on the campus and in the community, and my sense is this is going to proceed.
“We’re going to be on a very aggressive path to meet our obligation for the next few months.”
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