PMO director sings praises of Bailey Hall under construction
August 8, 2013
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This image shows what the exterior of Ralph and Bettye Bailey Hall, future home of Purdue Musical Organizations, will look like. Construction is underway on the facility at the intersection of Grant Street and Northwestern Avenue. The 15,300-square-foot building is scheduled for completion by fall of 2014. (Purdue Musical Organizations image) |
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The new home for Purdue Musical Organizations, under construction just off campus, will feature large and small rehearsal rooms, a student lounge and study area, a music library and environmentally controlled storage space, said PMO director William Griffel.
The 15,300-square-foot Ralph and Bettye Bailey Hall, located at the intersection of Grant Street and Northwestern Avenue, is set to open by fall 2014. The building will be home to six choral groups and a handbell choir.
"We're thrilled to see the structure going up and for all the opportunities it will offer our student performers," Griffel said. "Bailey Hall will help us even more to spotlight PMO's rich history and traditions, to honor donors and alumni and recognize exceptional efforts of students and volunteers."
PMO has been housed since 1940 on several floors of the Elliott Hall of Music on campus. Its new home is named for Ralph and Bettye Bailey in honor of the $4.5 million gift from the couple to support its construction. Ralph Bailey is a 1949 mechanical engineering graduate, and both have been longtime supporters of the university and PMO.
Bailey Hall's rehearsal spaces, developed to enhance acoustics, will feature large rooms for ensembles and smaller rooms for small groups and individuals to practice. It also will include a conference room and kitchenette.
Another area that has Griffel excited is the environmentally controlled instrument storage space that will provide students and staff easy access and help in equipment loading and transferring.
"That's very important," Griffel said of the storage. "Last year PMO students performed 119 shows in 46 cities across eight states and five nations. So, transferring equipment is nearly a daily occurrence."
Purdue's Board of Trustees in May approved a $4.04 million contract with Kettlehut Construction Co. of Lafayette to build the $7.6 million Bailey Hall. It is being built entirely with gift funds.
Contact: Steve Schlenk, 765-496-6091, sschlenk@purdue.edu
Source: William Griffel, wgriffel@purdue.edu
