Whitworth music building remodel underway

Whitworth University music students are getting some needed breathing and singing room.

“We’re just thrilled to have this new addition,” music professor Ben Brody said. “It provides much-needed space.”

A $13.5 million project will add two performance halls, additional practice rooms and classrooms to Whitworth’s music building, and an additional $300,000 will go toward purchasing pianos, university spokesperson Lauren Clark said.

The building was built in 1978 and is too small for Whitworth’s current music department, which has 67 music majors and 39 minors, Brody said. In spring 2014, 300 students were enrolled in at least one music course. There are 10 full-time music professors and 30 part-time instructors.

“There are times during the day when students are having to practice in stairwells because there is no place to practice,” Brody said.

The project will add 21,000 square feet of music practice and performance space as well as remodel roughly 16,000 square feet of existing space. Donors are completely funding the project, which is expected to be done in September 2016, Clark said.

The original building was considered the first phase of a two-phase project. A second phase was supposed to add space for other arts departments. However, those departments now have their own space, so the new space will be dedicated solely to music. Part of the money will be used to purchase modern recording equipment, which will allow the university to offer music technology courses.

The renovations also will make the space more comfortable and welcoming, which is important, Brody said, because many music students spend the majority of their day in the building.

“Music students are a little bit unusual, I think, because they spend many, many hours a day in the building,” Brody said.

The building will be named the Cowles Music Center. The Harriet Cheney Cowles Foundation pledged the lead gift of $2 million. The foundation is a charitable branch of Cowles Co., which owns The Spokesman-Review.

“I’m just personally so excited because this new facility is going to allow Whitworth to be much more engaged in serving the community through music,” Brody said. “We’re just so grateful for the generosity.”

Music professor Richard Strauch said the building will impact the community outside of Whitworth. The new space will allow Whitworth to work with local schools’ music programs and to host festivals and other events, Strauch said.

Many non-music majors are attracted to the accessibility of the school’s music program, he said. Unlike larger schools, non-music majors can still get involved musically, he said. Additionally, Whitworth music education students often end up teaching locally, he said.

“We’ve attracted a lot of academically strong students who come because they know they can be involved in music,” Strauch said. “We’re able to draw those students to Whitworth, and then if they stay in the community that’s another way it benefits the community.”