INSPIRE – BUILD – SUSTAIN is VanderCook College of Music’s Capital Campaign, a $6,000,000 campaign dedicated to transforming a second building for the college into an educational music center.
VanderCook College of Music traces its origins to 1909 when the legendary Hale A. VanderCook opened his cornet school on Chicago’s west side. The school grew quickly and became a four-year college in the 1930’s. VanderCook was one of the first three institutions in the country to offer a degree in music education.
VanderCook has been housed in its current location, a Mies van der Rohe building at 3140 S. Federal Street on the Illinois Institute of Technology campus, since 1996. At the time VanderCook moved to this location, enrollment was about 60 students. Today, VanderCook has approximately 150 students using the same space that 60 did some 15 years ago. Rehearsal rooms are over-crowded, our students do not have adequate places to practice, and the college has never had a dedicated performance area.
This second building, also a Mies van der Rohe design, is located just steps from VanderCook’s current location. A 24,400 square foot facility, it will provide much-needed rehearsal and practice areas, the college’s first dedicated performance area, teaching studios, faculty offices, a lobby/reception area that will double as a rehearsal area, and so much more.
The transformation will occur in two phases. Phase one will develop an annex on 1st floor to serve as a lobby, rehearsal space, and small performance area; classroom; band library; choral library; green room; mezzanine area on floor 2 including: an ensemble room, 8 practice rooms; faculty offices; relocation of instrument repair lab; piano studio/office; additional chamber ensemble room; sound & recording studio; and instrument storage.
Phase two will include the main theatre space with a performance stage and activity/lecture area. In addition, phase two will include a classroom, grand piano studio, three additional teaching/practice areas, a percussion studio, percussion storage, student lockers, a lighting booth and sound recording studio, and instrument storage.
In addition to the transformation of this second building, VanderCook will modify its existing facility by expanding and increasing the library, creating additional classroom space, developing a distance-learning center, and creating additional teaching/practice areas.
The college has never had a greater need than it does now. Simply stated, the college is out of space. In order to provide our students the educational facilities they need and deserve and to meet the needs of our curriculum we must expand, upgrade, and enhance VanderCook’s campus.