Wilder Hall Enters Second Phase of Renovation</h1> <article> <h1>Wilder Hall Enters Second Phase of Renovation</h1> <p>eburnett — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 16:49:54 +0000</p> <span>Wilder Hall Enters Second Phase of Renovation</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-08-18T12:49:54-04:00" title="Monday, August 18, 2025 - 12:49">Mon, 08/18/2025 - 12:49</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p class="intro-text">Construction at Wilder Hall, 91ֱ��’s historic student union building, resumed in July and will continue through summer 2026. </p><p class="intro-text">The project, which is the second phase of a comprehensive multi-year renovation of the building, will focus on upgrades to the third floor. While all but the west end of the third floor will be closed throughout the 2025-26 academic year, most of Wilder will remain in use during this period.</p><p class="intro-text">Highlights of Phase II include:</p><ul><li><p class="intro-text">Creation of new offices and furniture for the office of Student Leadership and Involvement, with a 16-person conference room equipped with enhanced technology</p></li><li><p class="intro-text">New space—including two new offices—for Concert Sound</p></li><li><p class="intro-text">New office and furniture for the Student Senate and the Student Finance Committee</p></li><li><p class="intro-text">New office and furniture for the Sexual Information Center, Craft Room, Film Co-op, and ExCo</p></li><li><p class="intro-text">New, reservable spaces for student organizations</p></li><li><p class="intro-text">Creation of an esports arena, with the capability to host group gaming events and one-on-one play</p></li></ul><p class="intro-text">“Wilder Hall is the center of student activity on campus, from the many student organizations and Student Affairs offices housed there, to the virtually nonstop activity on every floor each day of the year,” says <a href="/karen-goff" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="64350f3b-de3b-47b5-9a98-e3c6a1411ca3" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Karen Goff">Karen Goff</a>, 91ֱ��’s Dean of Students. “Wilder is an essential pillar of our campus, and these comprehensive renovations are intended to honor its remarkable beauty and ensure its vitality for generations to come.”</p><p class="intro-text">To make way for construction, several Wilder Hall offices have been relocated for the coming year. They include:</p><ul><li><p class="intro-text">Student Leadership and Involvement to Daub House (145 W. Lorain St., next door to Wilder Hall)</p></li><li><p class="intro-text">Student Finance Committee to Daub House</p></li><li><p class="intro-text">Concert Sound to Wilder Hall Room 212</p></li><li><p class="intro-text">ExCo Committee to Kade House (104 S. Professor St.) Room 104</p></li></ul><p class="intro-text">Previously renovated meeting spaces on the west end of the third floor will remain in use this year; most other areas of the building will be unaffected by the construction.</p><p class="intro-text">Wilder Hall’s comprehensive, multiyear renovation began in January 2023. Its first phase focused on the west side of the building, with emphasis on enhanced safety and accessibility features, improved student experience, utility infrastructure (including HVAC installation and tie-in to 91ֱ��’s new geothermal energy system), and structural repairs. Phase I was completed in spring 2024.</p><p class="intro-text">In the years ahead, additional phases of Wilder construction will include renovation of the lower level and the first and second floors.</p><p class="intro-text"><strong>About Wilder Hall:</strong> Designed by Chicago architect Joseph Lyman Silsbee—who also designed the Memorial Arch on Tappan Square—Wilder Hall opened in 1911 as a men’s residence. In addition to providing housing for undergraduates, the building was conceived as a meeting and performance space, and has evolved over time into 91ֱ��’s student union.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Construction focuses on upgrades to the third floor; expected completion in summer 2026.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">Campus News</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2025-08-18T12:00:00Z">Mon, 08/18/2025 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Communications Staff</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2593">Facilities</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Wilder Hall construction in the coming year will focus on third-floor spaces. Other floors will remain available for student use.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>91ֱ�� to Launch Online Bookstore, Reenvisioned Campus Shop</h1> <p>eburnett — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 17:36:37 +0000</p> <span>91ֱ�� to Launch Online Bookstore, Reenvisioned Campus Shop</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-04-30T13:36:37-04:00" title="Wednesday, April 30, 2025 - 13:36">Wed, 04/30/2025 - 13:36</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p> 91ֱ�� will launch a new online bookstore and campus retail location this year, moves aimed at simplifying processes and improving outcomes related to obtaining course materials while creating new opportunities to offer high-quality 91ֱ�� apparel and other merchandise.</p> <p>By fall 2025, the Campus Store will open in a newly renovated space on the first floor of Mudd Center, next to the popular campus coffee shop Azariah’s. </p> <p>The new store will replace the College Bookstore, which for years has been housed in a downtown space on College Street.</p> <p>Beginning in May, faculty may begin selecting course materials for fall semester using an online platform powered by eCampus.com, 91ֱ��’s official online textbook retailer. In early June, University Gear Shop (UGS) will begin operations as 91ֱ��’s official provider of apparel, spirit items, student supplies, and more. </p> <p>This modernized, hybrid approach is a response to longstanding faculty requests for an improved model for sourcing course materials and ensuring affordable options for students. It aligns with shifting trends in campus bookstore operations and student buying habits nationwide.</p> <p>91ֱ��’s partnerships with eCampus.com and UGS are the result of an extensive study led by a faculty and staff committee that invited input from students and key areas of the institution including the college, conservatory, athletics, libraries, registrar, admissions, financial aid, and CIT. UGS and eCampus are frequently paired by colleges and universities seeking an efficient, effective approach to supporting campus textbook and merchandise needs. </p> <p>Barnes & Noble will continue to operate the current bookstore through May. The College Street space eventually will be redesigned to support academic needs.</p> <p> </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Modernized approach offers simplified ordering of course materials and emphasizes high-quality 91ֱ�� merchandise—in a welcoming space at the heart of campus.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">Campus News</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2025-05-01T12:00:00Z">Thu, 05/01/2025 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Office of Communications</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4304">Bookstore</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2593">Facilities</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/jennifer-bryan" hreflang="und">Jennifer Bryan</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Mudd Center, home of 91ֱ��'s Terrell Main Library, will welcome a new Campus Store in fall 2025, in space next to Azariah's Café.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-flex-content field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden vertical-spacing--basic field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div id="obj-40698" class="paragraph paragraph--type--pb-el-bq paragraph--view-mode--default"> <blockquote class="blockquote--quotemark" data-text-color-red data-text-size-giant> <p>Our students love Azariah’s, and they love to gather in Mudd’s Academic Commons. This move makes it easy for them to browse the store or quickly drop by for the item they need in a way that stays true to what they love about the space.” <strong>—Rebecca Vazquez-Skillings</strong></p> </blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div id="obj-40414" class="paragraph paragraph--type--para-el-copy paragraph--view-mode--default o-flex--basic-copy basic-copy"> <p>“We are thrilled to share the exciting news of our online bookstore, the future Campus Store, and the two partnerships that make them possible,” says Rebecca Vazquez-Skillings, 91ֱ��’s Vice President for Finance and Administration. “Our goal is to provide a seamless, convenient, and budget-conscious bookstore experience for our students and faculty, as well as our visiting families, alumni, and other guests. I am happy to say we achieved that objective through these partnerships with eCampus.com and University Gear Shop and in the selection of Mudd Center as the new home for our Campus Store.”</p> <h3>Improved Experience for All</h3> <p>The Campus Store and online ordering platform offer a host of advantages over the previous bookstore model; among them:</p> <ul> <li>Simplified processes for faculty course adoptions and student purchasing.</li> <li>Comprehensive support resources for faculty and students.</li> <li>The widest-possible selection of course materials from which faculty may choose.</li> <li>A wide range of student options for purchase and rent, based on budget and needs.</li> <li>A price-match guarantee, ensuring no student overpays for course materials.</li> <li>Convenient, free delivery of most materials to the Campus Store.</li> <li>Free returns of course materials up to 15 days after the start of classes.</li> <li>Expanded selection of high-quality, 91ֱ��-branded apparel and other spirit items and supplies.</li> <li>Convenient location in a bustling hub of campus.</li> </ul> <p>Beginning this spring, faculty can begin making course adoptions for fall semester using the <a href="https://okta.oberlin.edu/app/oberlin_ecampusfacultyfast_1/exk13ck5yftebPFzH2p8/sso/saml?RelayState=6691&SAMLRequest=nVLLbsIwELz3KyLf84QWyUoipaACEpRHkkrlUrmJKa5iO3jt0v59TWglJFQOPVlaz87Mzm4MhDctzozeiTXdGwra%2beSNANx9JMgogSUBBlgQTgHrCufZfIYjL8CtklpWskHOdJSgl3zxXpbhuF49h%2bVqUvcHm%2fmBjetFG%2b55dtfskPNEFTApEmS7bROAoVMBmghtS0F06wZ9txcU4QBHIe5FG%2bQsfyTumaiZeLvu5%2fUEAjwpiqW7XOQFcjIAqrQVHUoBhlOVU%2fXBKlquZwnaad0C9v0tAe3RivDWgFdJ7h%2bH91EaH1%2fc%2bVRnsVx3QX4VUXqdP%2fbP6NOb%2bLSKR0s4HS1lw6qv%2f6ziQSpO9N%2fo0Au7CqvdbQfFRkBLK7ZltLZ5NY08DBUlmiZIK0NtCv6lM2vXvzyd9Bs%3d">Faculty Administration Support Tool—or “FAST”—website</a>, which includes access to advanced course material research tools that enable assessment of materials based on real-time pricing, availability, and student purchasing trends. Users log in to FAST using their 91ֱ�� sign-on credentials.</p> <p>Faculty will receive an email this week with information on registering for one of two virtual training sessions on May 7 and 8, with additional opportunities for one-on-one training available as necessary. </p> <p>Starting in July, students will use the new Online Bookstore as their one-stop shop to acquire course materials for fall 2025. Students will use their 91ֱ�� single sign-on for immediate access to professor-selected materials in a variety of formats and price points, including new, used, digital, and rental options. Most orders will be shipped the same day and arrive the following day.</p> <p>The site also connects users to eCampus.com’s Marketplace option, through which materials may be available from third-party sellers, often at steeply discounted prices.</p> <p>Professor of English Jennifer Bryan looks forward to a streamlined ordering system that will ensure all students have the necessary course materials in hand—and in plenty of time.</p> <p>“I’m really excited about eCampus,” says Bryan, a member of the committee that researched potential solutions for 91ֱ��. “I expect that all my students will have the books they need on the first day of class: the right editions, at a good price, with very little effort on their part. With a single, reliable, responsive system, nobody should fall through the cracks or fall behind.”</p> <p>91ֱ��’s Online Bookstore will be active in May; additional information will be shared with the campus when the site is ready.</p> <h3>A Campus Store—and More</h3> <p>According to Vazquez-Skillings, selection of Mudd Center as the new home for the Campus Store follows study of numerous other potential locations on campus.</p> <p>“Our students love Azariah’s, and they love to gather in Mudd’s Academic Commons,” she says. “This move makes it easy for them to browse the store or quickly drop by for the item they need in a way that stays true to what they love about the space.”</p> <p>The new store will occupy the area currently used to display periodicals, which will be relocated to a nearby section of Mudd’s Academic Commons. Vazquez-Skillings notes that, while the area that houses Azariah’s will be reconfigured to accommodate the Campus Store, the resulting layout will have a minimal effect on the coffee shop and will include improved seating and gathering options. </p> <p>The Campus Store is expected to open in early fall. As renovation of the space gets underway this summer, UGS will begin operations in a temporary location on campus. In the meantime, a <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/store/oberlincollegestore">Zazzle online pop-up store</a> with a limited selection of 91ֱ��-branded merchandise has been established to accommodate short-term needs. </p> <p>For additional information, including frequently asked questions about course materials for students and faculty, <a href="/bookstore">please visit the bookstore page on 91ֱ��.edu</a>.</p> <hr> <p><strong><em>For a list of frequently asked questions, <a href="/bookstore">please visit the bookstore page of 91ֱ��.edu</a>.</em></strong></p> <p><strong>ABOUT ECAMPUS.COM:</strong> Founded in 1999, eCampus.com is a premier online retailer of textbooks and digital course materials. Based in Lexington, Kentucky, it serves more than 300 schools, colleges, and universities nationwide. Learn more at <a href="https://www.ecampus.com/">www.ecampus.com</a> and <a href="https://www.ecampushighered.com/">www.ecampushighered.com</a>.</p> <p><strong>ABOUT UNIVERSITY GEAR SHOP (UGS): </strong>UGS is a trusted global distribution network specializing in supporting the needs of colleges and universities in providing branded, high-quality merchandise and apparel. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.universitygearshop.com">www.universitygearshop.com</a>.</p> </div> </div> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Chet Arcaba Earns 2024 YB Award for Extraordinary Service</h1> <p>eburnett — Mon, 06 May 2024 15:29:57 +0000</p> <span>Chet Arcaba Earns 2024 YB Award for Extraordinary Service</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-05-06T11:29:57-04:00" title="Monday, May 6, 2024 - 11:29">Mon, 05/06/2024 - 11:29</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><a href="/node/30271">Chet Arcaba</a>, 91ֱ��’s director of facilities stewardship, is the recipient of the 2024 <a href="/human-resources/awards-recognition">YB Staff Award</a> for extraordinary service, presented annually to an 91ֱ�� staff member.</p> <p>A 45-year employee at 91ֱ��, Arcaba was honored by President <a href="/node/48561">Carmen Twillie Ambar</a> at a spring social for faculty and staff held May 6 at the Heisman Field House.</p> <p>Arcaba has served in numerous roles on campus since his hire in 1979, among them lead data control clerk, equipment technician, network technician, and telephone manager. He has been director of facilities stewardship since 2016.</p> <p>For years, he has been on call around the clock, responding to weather-related emergencies, infrastructure breakdowns, and much more.</p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-right"> <figcaption>Arcaba was honored by President Ambar at a May 6 employee social. (photo by Hayley Vitale)</figcaption> </figure> <p>Chief Facilities Officer <a href="/node/160311">Kevin Brown</a> marvels at his colleague’s excellence.</p> <p>“I came to 91ֱ�� with 35 years of experience in facilities, and Chet demonstrated to me a new level of customer service I had never seen,” says Brown. “In most organizations, that level of expertise will never exist. It’s untrainable. It’s a result of Chet’s years of customer service: the trust he has built within the 91ֱ�� community, his work ethic, and his keen intellect. Folks just know that Chet will take care of them.”</p> <p>Praise for Arcaba is as voluminous as it is effusive. Following are reflections from colleagues who endorsed him for the YB Award:</p> <ul> <li>“Chet has been a pillar of support for our community.”</li> <li>“Chet’s contributions to 91ֱ�� College not only honor YB’s memory, but also exemplify the kind of leadership and service that can inspire others to strive for excellence in their roles.”</li> <li>“His approach aligns closely with 91ֱ��’s historic milestones, as he recognizes that progress is the product of dedicated effort and collaboration within and beyond our community.”</li> <li>“Chet’s impact on our campus is a testament to his exceptional dedication and serves as a model for how institutional employees can play a pivotal role in advancing the strategic goals of the college.”</li> <li>“His dedication to 91ֱ�� College is unparalleled. He has made himself available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for his entire tenure.”</li> <li>“Chet is a champion for the staff and students. He always puts everyone before himself.”</li> <li>“His daily commitment to 91ֱ��’s well-being is a part of his rare altruistic character. I feel lucky and honored to know him.”</li> <li>“I trust Chet’s guidance and knowledge implicitly. He maintains a level demeanor no matter what is going on, and he treats everyone fairly, with dignity, and respect. His leadership embodies the true spirit of what 91ֱ�� stands for.”</li> </ul> <hr> <p>The YB Staff Award was established to honor the extraordinary service of the late Yeworkwha Belachew—“YB,” as she was affectionately known—who served 91ֱ�� in numerous roles for more than 35 years, most notably as ombudsperson and founder of the 91ֱ�� College Dialogue Center. The center was renamed the Yeworkwha Belachew Center for Dialogue upon her retirement in 2016.</p> <p>First presented in 2016—to Belachew—the YB Award was established to recognize a non-faculty employee of the college or conservatory who demonstrates daily commitment and performance in advancing 91ֱ��’s strategic goals through exemplary service.</p> <p>For more information about the YB Award and a complete list of past honorees, please visit the Department of Human Resources’ Awards and Recognition page.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Now 45 years into his 91ֱ�� career, director of facilities stewardship garners widespread praise for his tireless dedication to the campus and community.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">Campus News</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2024-05-06T12:00:00Z">Mon, 05/06/2024 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Communications Staff</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2593">Facilities</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2562">Human Resources</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Bryan Rubin</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Offices Relocate to Dascomb Hall</h1> <p>hhempste — Tue, 20 Aug 2019 19:56:24 +0000</p> <span>Offices Relocate to Dascomb Hall</span> <span><span>hhempste</span></span> <span><time datetime="2019-08-20T15:56:24-04:00" title="Tuesday, August 20, 2019 - 15:56">Tue, 08/20/2019 - 15:56</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>In the effort to place vital student services in a more central campus location, three offices are now located inside <a href="/dascomb">Dascomb Hall</a> at 140 W. College St.</p> <p><a href="/campus-safety">Campus Safety</a> has moved into a space on the northwest side of the building. Its new location is specifically designed to enhance 91ֱ��'s capacity to foster a safe campus environment. Located in Suite C, its front entrance faces Mudd Center, and parking is available in the Mudd Center lot.</p> <p>Student Health Services and the Counseling Center have relocated to Dascomb Hall from their former location on W. Lorain St. This new campus location brings these services in closer proximity to residential halls and other student support offices.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">Campus News</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2019-08-20T12:00:00Z">Tue, 08/20/2019 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Communications Staff</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2593">Facilities</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2571">Campus Safety</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2401">Resources for Students</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Walter Novak</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Cherry Trees Return to Asia House</h1> <p>hhempste — Tue, 06 Jun 2017 19:48:29 +0000</p> <span>Cherry Trees Return to Asia House</span> <span><span>hhempste</span></span> <span><time datetime="2017-06-06T15:48:29-04:00" title="Tuesday, June 6, 2017 - 15:48">Tue, 06/06/2017 - 15:48</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><em>On a sunny afternoon, student volunteers from Asia House worked with Grounds Services to plant two Kwanzan cherry trees inside the Asia House courtyard. While the yard once boasted cherry trees, they were removed due to disease. Asia House resident and first-year Sabine Gross proposed replacing the trees, while Grounds Services Manager Dennis Greive organized the effort. Grounds Specialist Terry Kish led the afternoon planting with support from students Charles Cui, Sabine Gross, Alex Heller, Catherine Lytle, Jun Takaki, and Kara Nepomuceno. The flowering cherry trees will eventually provide shade to the outdoor living space.</em></p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">Campus News</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2017-05-17T12:00:00Z">Wed, 05/17/2017 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Communications Staff</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2593">Facilities</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2546">Photo Feature</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">91ֱ�� College Grounds Services</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Stull Hall Earns Acclaim</h1> <p>eburnett — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 18:20:42 +0000</p> <span>Stull Hall Earns Acclaim</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2016-11-07T13:20:42-05:00" title="Monday, November 7, 2016 - 13:20">Mon, 11/07/2016 - 13:20</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The conservatory performance space built atop Bibbins Hall during summer 2013—the David H. Stull Recital Hall—has earned an Honor Award, the highest accolade bestowed by the Cleveland-area chapters of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) .</p> <p>“This project is proof that true beauty results from a clear architectural response to the design problem,” the jury wrote in its remarks. “The intervention of this new recital and performance hall within the current 91ֱ�� Conservatory of Music complex results in a solution that is sensitive to the rhythm and formal language of the existing 1964 building yet provocative in its innovative response to mediating natural light and challenging acoustic requirements. The jury all agreed that this is a beautifully executed project.”</p> <p>The award was presented to the project architects, Westlake Reed Leskosky, the Cleveland-based firm that also created 91ֱ��’s Bertram and Judith Kohl Building, at the 2013 AIA Cleveland + ASID Ohio North Design Awards celebration on November 15.</p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-right"> <figcaption>“We wanted to respect the architecture: to be sensitive to the initial design while enabling a new function,” says Nick Bobulsky, 91ֱ��’s construction manager, of Stull Hall. <em>Image by Erich Burnett.</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>Stull Hall addresses the conservatory’s ever-increasing need for performance space and pays tribute to one of the institution’s most influential former leaders—David H. Stull ’89, dean of the conservatory from 2004 to 2013, under whose leadership the conservatory made immense strides in upgrading its facilities and resources for students.</p> <p>“David Stull was a great champion of the 91ֱ�� Conservatory and a tireless advocate for its students and faculty,” says 91ֱ�� President Marvin Krislov. “He loved nothing more than attending their performances, so it is wonderful that this hall will bear his name and help inspire future generations of talented 91ֱ�� musicians.”</p> <p>To Professor of Musicology Steven Plank, Stull Hall represents “a way of making imaginative things possible”—to coax innovative new uses out of familiar settings.</p> <p>“This is going to give us wonderful breathing room,” says Plank, an 91ֱ�� faculty member since 1980. “In the past several decades, one of the major issues here has been the space crunch. If you look at the course catalog from 1970 and a catalog from now, it will make your head spin at how much more is going on here.”</p> <p>Envisioned by Stull himself as part of ongoing renovations to Bibbins, the newly created hall repurposes two former classrooms and two teaching studios on the building’s third floor. In order to accommodate the acoustical needs of a true recital space, the ceiling was raised roughly eight feet. Made of structural steel and glass that honors the aesthetic of the original building, Stull Hall’s vaulted ceiling rises above the roofline of Bibbins.</p> <p>“We wanted to respect the architecture: to be sensitive to the initial design while enabling a new function,” says Nick Bobulsky, 91ֱ��’s construction manager. Bobulsky’s crews began work on Stull Hall on May 28—one day after 91ֱ��’s 2013 commencement activities were completed.</p> <p>Created in 1963, Bibbins Hall was designed by noted architect Minoru Yamasaki, who later mimicked the look of Bibbins in his best-known creation, the former World Trade Center in New York City. Yamasaki also designed 91ֱ��’s King Building and Rice Hall, situated diagonally opposite Bibbins at the southwest corner of Tappan Square.</p> <p>Crafted with optimal flexibility in mind, Stull Hall consists of a 1,300-square-foot performance space, which can be configured in several ways and can accommodate roughly 120 guests. Other features include a green room, display cases, and a storage closet designed to hold the hall’s chairs when necessary. The room will offer capability for live streaming and recording of concerts using technology housed in the Kohl Building’s recording studio, Clonick Hall. It also allows students to record their own playing, providing an essential tool and a vital part of their musical development.</p> <p>“When we discussed the ways we could pay tribute to David, we agreed that it should happen in a way that would be part of the daily flow of life here at the conservatory and that would exemplify his great commitment to teaching,” says Acting Dean of the Conservatory Andrea Kalyn, who succeeded Stull in July. “This space captures the essence of David's visionary leadership over the last decade.”</p> <p>The new hall is part of a multi-year renovation plan for Bibbins, which began in summer 2012 with a complete makeover of the second floor that resulted in a series of technologically superior classrooms. This summer, framed reproductions of artwork from the Allen Memorial Art Museum were installed throughout the second floor. Additional renovations of the third floor will continue during the summer of 2014.</p> <p>The name “Stull Hall” was put forth by the conservatory’s faculty council and met with widespread support. In July, Stull assumed the role of president at the San Francisco Conservatory, after 17 years at 91ֱ��, first as a student in the late 1980s and later as an administrator.</p> <p>“When word came that David was leaving, one of the first agenda items was how to pay tribute to him,” says Plank, a member of the faculty council. “I think this is very fitting. He left his mark here in many ways, but quite prominently in terms of space.”</p> <p>Reservations for use of Stull Hall can be made through the conservatory’s <a href="/concert-production">concert production office</a>.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">Campus News</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2013-11-26T12:00:00Z">Tue, 11/26/2013 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Erich Burnett</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2593">Facilities</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">The AIA+ASID jury noted that Stull Hall is “sensitive to the rhythm and formal language of the existing 1964 building yet provocative in its innovative response to mediating natural light and challenging acoustic requirements.”</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Erich Burnett</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> </main></body></html>