OSU/A&M Regents select architects for future performing arts center and business building

Friday, July 23, 2010

The OSU/A&M Board of Regents today selected two architectural firms to plan and design a possible new performing arts center and new or expansion and renovation of the business building at Oklahoma State University.

Beck Design, Tulsa, Oklahoma was selected to assist the university with a master plan and conceptual design for a new performing arts center to provide facilities for the Departments of Music and Theater.

“I am delighted at the prospect of a new performing arts center,” said Regents Professor Peter M.A. Sherwood, dean of the OSU College of Arts and Sciences. “Our music and theater departments have many achievements and have presented outstanding performances in facilities that have been especially challenging. This is an excellent time to provide a world-class facility for two departments that have so much to contribute to OSU, the Stillwater community and the state.”

The music and theater departments are currently housed in the Seretean Center for the Performing Arts that were constructed in the 1970s. The theater department produces six to eight productions each year involving several hundred students, while the music department presents about 160 events each year including ensemble concerts, student recitals, faculty recitals and guest artist performances. With additional non-university events, there are more than 200 activities at the Seretean Concert Hall each year.

Frankfurt-Short-Bruza (FSB), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma with Perkins+Will, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota were selected to create a plan for a possible new or expansion and renovation of the building that houses the Spears School of Business.

“We anticipate the new business building will be a magnet that draws together people from across campus to dialogue about business, entrepreneurship, economics, law, and policy issues,” said Larry Crosby, dean of the OSU Spears School of Business. “We need a facility that will attract the best student and faculty minds. The facility will dovetail with the nature of business education today, which is highly experiential and collaborative.”

The Spears School of Business is a comprehensive business school with an instructional, research and outreach mission. The school includes seven academic departments with more than 100 tenure and tenure-track faculty members, 18 undergraduate degree programs, seven master’s degree programs and two doctoral degree programs.

Funding for the business building construction/renovation will be provided by the Spears School of Business foundation funds and the performing arts center will be funded by university funds. Both of these funds are part of ongoing fundraising through the OSU Branding Success $1 billion campaign.