Project Information
The hall is located on Seminary Drive, opposite Andrews' Seminary and Chan Shun Hall. The large glass-and-copper-clad front faces toward Pioneer Memorial Church.
The building was designed by the architectural firm of HarleyEllis in Southfield, Michigan, which has designed musical and performance facilities at Michigan State and Central Michigan Universities. Kirkegaard Associates of Chicago, Illinois, the same company that renovated the Chicago Symphony Center, engineered the acoustics. Schuler & Shook, of Chicago, Illinois was the theatrical planner and lighting designer. Fiskars, Inc., of St. Joseph, Michigan, was the construction manager.
A VISION
What does it take to transform a dream into reality? In the case of John and Dede Howard, it took a profound love of music, a shared commitment to the community, and an extraordinary act of generosity. In February 2001, the Howards shared a generous portion to help construct and maintain a performing arts center on the campus of Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. What the Howards envisioned was a world-class facility for fine arts presentations…a state-of-the-art resource devoted to the performance, recording and broadcasting of classical music…and a cultural center to be shared and enjoyed by the entire community.
A GIFT
This remarkable gift-the largest ever made to Andrews University-reflects a deep appreciation for the university's many contributions to the cultural life of Michiana. Those contributions include public performances by faculty and students from the highly regarded Department of Music and daily broadcasts by WAUS-FM, the on-campus classical music radio station enjoyed by thousands of listeners daily. The gift of John and Dede Howard also reflects a faith in the vision and generosity of others who care about the fine arts and appreciate the power that music has to enrich the quality of life, for individuals and the community.
AN OPPORTUNITY
Construction costs for the Howard Performing Arts Center are estimated at $14 million. Of that amount, the Howard family has donated a generous portion to be used for building costs and ongoing maintenance. The remainder is being raised by donations from businesses, civic organizations, foundations, individuals, and other private sources. The current capital campaign represents a wonderful and rare opportunity to enrich the cultural life of the Michiana region… establish an enduring personal legacy… and create a venue for the fine arts that will benefit our community for generations to come.
A COMMUNITY RESOURCE
The Howard Performing Arts Center is intended to be a cultural resource for the entire Michiana region. It serves as a performance venue for university orchestras and choirs, community-based musical groups, and visiting musicians and ensembles. It also functions as a training facility for the next generation of performers and music teachers. The Center's broadcast and recording studios will provide a new home for WAUS-FM, the campus public radio station, making it possible to expand program offerings dramatically for listeners throughout the region. In addition, the facility will be available to schools, civic groups and other organizations for special events and educational programs.
- Provides an acoustically superior auditorium for performance of classical music.
- Serves as an architectural landmark for the Michiana region.
- Develops a place for students to learn how to present music in a professional setting.
- Inspires a continuation and enhancement of musical programming that Andrews University offers.
- Enhances the ability of Andrews University to provide a wide range of musical series.
- Offers a place for world-class musicians to perform.
- Increases the visibility of WAUS by enhancing the accessibility of the station.
- Creates a place for WAUS to record and air live performances for the listening pleasure of the Michiana area.
- Provides the potential to increase enrollment.