Ground broken for new Surack – 斯威特沃特 Music Industry Building at Purdue Fort Wayne

Tuesday’s groundbreaking ceremony on the campus of im体育 was capped off with some big news. 这所大学有2500万美元, 26,000-square-foot facility that’s scheduled to open in time for the fall 2026 semester will be called the Surack – 斯威特沃特 Music Industry Building. The name was chosen to recognize the crucial support Chuck and Lisa Surack have provided to the project – and to acknowledge their essential role in the PFW School of Music’s growth since it welcomed its first students six years ago.

Chuck is the founder and CEO of Surack Enterprises, and was the CEO of 斯威特沃特他于1979年创立了该公司. 在周二的仪式之前, he described why he and Lisa have supported the music school for so long, 特别是它最近的创举.

“This project is incredibly important because it’s a major investment in the future of music education in our community,苏拉克说。. “The new state-of-the-art facility will nurture and develop musicians, 为学习和创造创造创造新的机会, 支持韦恩堡音乐的发展.”

From the moment PFW first opened the doors of its current facility on the 斯威特沃特 corporate campus in 2018, 对学校流行音乐的兴趣, 音乐产业, 音乐技术项目也大幅增加. 第一年的入学人数是33人. 在本学年开始的时候, 它是147, and 22 of the students are also double majors within the three programs.

虽然并非完全出乎意料, this growth became the driving force behind a vision to bring a significantly larger, 更先进的音乐产业建筑到PFW主校区. 对这些项目的高度兴趣也导致了该项目的创建 金顶音乐组合, which is believed to be the only record label in the country to involve students on a weekly basis in and out of the classroom. 它也将搬到新的设施.

“We are fortunate to be creating a 音乐产业 incubator like no other in the country,约翰·奥康奈尔说, 视觉与表演艺术学院院长. “以一种独特的方式, the high-level resources we will be providing to our students will help take interests many of them began pursuing at home during the pandemic to the next level. What we’re doing is giving them an opportunity to turn this passion into a career through training and experiences comparable to what’s happening in the business today.”  

当完成, the new 音乐产业 building’s amenities will include three recording studios and control rooms, 10个编辑套件, 音频实验室, 排练空间, 大教室, 7个办事处, 还有会议室.  

The bigger of the two 排练空间 will be more than 3,000 square feet. It too has received a name – the Marsha Walb Heller Rehearsal Hall – that recognizes a generous gift from David and Jill Heller.

除了奥康奈尔, 是谁主持了周二的仪式, other featured participants included PFW Chancellor Ron Elsenbaumer, 国家代表. Matt Lehman, R-Berne; and Ian Hyatt, Purdue im体育 chief of staff to the president.

“We are deeply grateful for the multitude of individuals and organizations who have helped pave the way for us to be here today,埃尔森鲍默说. “I extend my deepest appreciation to everyone who believed in this university, 坚信我们的使命, 帮助我们实现了这个梦想.”

Forty percent of the funding for the state-of-the-art facility came from private donors, including matching $3 million lead gifts from the Auer Foundation and the Suracks, 是在2022年8月宣布的. Fundraising efforts received another major boost in May 2023 with a $15 million budget allocation from the Indiana General Assembly. And to help cover rising construction costs as plans were being finalized, the Suracks recently delivered a second game-changing gift of $3 million to ensure that the project could move forward as planned.

来自大学和它的领导 视觉与表演艺术学院 我相信这一重要的扩张完全符合艾伦县经济发展行动计划于2022年1月宣布. It included a call for Fort Wayne to become a “Top-10 Music City” over the following decade.

在项目的初始规划阶段, Elsenbaumer acknowledged the efforts of members of PFW’s community engagement board, 大韦恩堡公司., 以及印第安纳州东北部地区商会, 谁的支持对获得国家资助至关重要. 周二，他也表达了同样的观点, while also thanking members of the university community and other key supporters who have helped the project reach this important milestone.

Elsenbaumer also recognized separate $1 million allocations from the English-Bonter-Mitchell Foundation and the Indiana General Assembly that were used to help establish the School of Music and equip the PFW center on the 斯威特沃特 campus.

When asked to reflect on his company’s humble beginnings 45 years ago, Surack highlighted what the entire area has been able to accomplish during that time.

“Looking at the new music building compared to 斯威特沃特’s early days, it’s amazing to see how much the music scene in Fort Wayne has grown,苏拉克说。. “This new building shows just how far we’ve come and highlights the city’s dedication to music education and supporting talent.”

The 音乐产业 building will be connected via a second-floor skybridge to the existing PFW Music Center. This is a prime location along Mastodon Way, a path that leads through the heart of the Main Campus.

该工程的总承包商是威根建设. The architecture and design elements are being provided by Design Collaborative.

A fly-through video of the building developed by Design Collaborative can be viewed by 点击这里.