

President Virginia Horvath, President Emeritus Dennis Hefner, New York State Senator Catharine Young, architect Deborah Berke and others will cut the ribbon to officially open the Michael C. Rockefeller Arts Center studio complex on Friday, Oct, 21, at 11 a.m. at the West Entrance of the building, opposite Steele Hall.
Remarks from several speakers, including President Horvath and President Emeritus Hefner, Senator Young, Ms. Berke, students Mark Chmiel and Nicole Miller, and others, will continue in the center’s Marvel Theatre until noon, followed by tours and the ribbon-cuttings for individual donor-named spaces from noon until 3 p.m.
The public is invited to attend the event.
The expansion project includes the addition of a two-story studio complex to the west side of the arts center, as well as major renovation of existing spaces, meeting the training and performance needs of Fredonia’s students. New spaces include the James and Marcia Merrins Dance Theatre, the Paul and Mary Joyce Schaefer Acting Studio, both on the second floor of the studio complex, and the Dennis R. and Kathryn L. Costello Community Room on the first floor. Nearly all of the arts programs are now in one unified complex, creating an exciting confluence of students, faculty and staff in the visual arts, theatre, dance and music. The new Woodcliffe Connector provides a weather-safe route from the Mason Hall complex to the backstage area of King Concert Hall.
Deborah Berke Partners of New York City is the project architect, and Northland Associates of Syracuse, the primary contractor. The groundbreaking for the project was held in May 2014.
The original I.M. Pei and Partners-designed Rockefeller Arts Center opened in 1969.Michael C. Rockefeller Arts Center naming gifts
The following are named rooms in the Rockefeller Arts Center expansion project, followed by the benefactors: