Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

University of Nebraska–Lincoln to Start Construction on New Music Building

  • By Matt Jones
  • 12/08/22

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln has announced a start date for construction on new facilities for its Glenn Korff School of Music. Work on the Westbrook Music Building is scheduled to start on Monday, Dec. 19, with an estimated completion date of spring 2025, according to university news. The project consists of renovations to one wing of the existing building, which will connect to about 75,000 square feet of new construction.

“We couldn’t be more excited for the new Westbrook project to get underway. The plans and designs for this new building are extraordinary and will impact our faculty, our staff, our students, and our community in many incredible ways,” said the School of Music’s interim director, Alan Mattingly. “The Glenn Korff School of Music looks forward to being an important gateway onto UNL’s campus, where our ability to teach, learn, engage, and connect will be enhanced for years to come.”

The project comes with a $75-million price tag and will be funded by the Nebraska Legislature via LB 384. New amenities will include a recording studio, rehearsal halls, a recital hall with 300 seats, and refurbished recital facilities, university news reports. The renovations will also maintain the existing building’s crucial connection to Kimball Recital Hall.

The new building will replace two parking lots to the west of the existing facility. Construction will take place in phases; existing portions of buildings will be removed or renovated as others are complete. The new facility will also leave room for green space attached to the adjoining arts quad.

“It’s definitely going to be a pretty transformational project,” said Brooke Hay, assistant vice president of the university’s facilities, planning, and capital programs. “If you think about what that corner is like right now, it’s primarily a parking lot. Now, it’s going to be a building really right there toward the corner, making it more of an urban type of campus edge. It will definitely change the face of the university on that corner.”

Local news reports that the current facility faces detriments like lack of space, lack of sound isolation and proper acoustic spaces, and correct humidification for instrument storage. It also lacks ADA compliance and an elevator sufficient to carry larger instruments.

“It’s a lot of the little things,” said Mattingly. “The temperature doesn’t stay consistent throughout the building. Air leaks in, and that’s bad for musical instruments. The acoustics could be better. Just the amount of space that we have, it’s starting to feel a little tight. Overall, it’s showing its age, and it’s not doing what it really needs to do for a comprehensive music program.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Deferred Maintenance Issues Growing at Universities, Gordian Reports

    U.S. colleges and universities are falling increasingly behind on facilities maintenance and repair, according to Gordian’s 13th annual State of Facilities in Higher Education report. The deferred capital renewal burden has reached $156 per gross square foot, an 8% increase over the previous year.

  • South Carolina District Starts Construction on $50M Middle School Renovation

    The Aiken County Public School District in North Augusta, S.C., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the $50-million renovation and expansion of North Augusta Middle School, according to a news release. The project’s funding comes from the 2024 renewal of a one-cent sales tax approved by local voters.

  • Chartwells Launches Campus Dining Evaluation Framework

    Contract food-service management provider Chartwells Higher Education recently announced the launch of BLUEPRINT, according to a news release. The evaluation framework was designed to provide a data-driven and customizable roadmap towards optimizing campus dining services and, by extension, the student experience.

  • Moline-Coal Valley School District to Consolidate Two Schools into New Facility

    The Moline-Coal Valley School District in Moline, Ill., recently broke ground on a new elementary school that will consolidate the students and staff from two existing schools, according to local news. Robert Ontiveros Elementary School will serve as the new home for Lincoln-Irving Elementary School and Willard Elementary School.