Blue Band Building Groundbreaking Set for
October 3
September 23, 2003
A groundbreaking ceremony for the Blue Band’s new indoor practice facility will be held on Friday, Oct. 3, at 2 p.m. at the building site, located adjacent to the Blue Band practice field at University Drive and Services Road. The Blue Band will perform prior to and following the groundbreaking ceremony.
The Blue Band currently lacks sufficient office or storage space, in addition to being forced to practice outside regardless of weather conditions. The new building will feature a 9,000-square-foot practice area, faculty offices, storage space for instruments and uniforms, and display cases for the band’s historic memorabilia. WTW Architects of Pittsburgh designed the structure, tentatively scheduled for completion in one year.
Founded in 1899 as a six-member drum and bugle corps, the Blue Band currently has 281 members, including 233 instrumentalists, 32 silks, 14 majorettes, a feature twirler and a drum major. Members come from all academic colleges at University Park. The Blue Band has appeared in every major bowl game in the United States, including the Rose Bowl and the Tournament of Roses Parade.
Fund-raising continues for this new facility. The University has provided $2.5 million toward the $4.3 million project, including a third of a million from the Penn State Alumni Association. In addition, for every two dollars donated to the new building, the Alumni Association will donate another dollar (i.e., the Association will give $50 for each $100 donation). Donors of $25,000 or greater may name a room within the facility. Donors of $1,000 can name a locker. Only 240 of these special lockers are still available.
For more information on the groundbreaking ceremony or to donate to this building project, contact Brian Crownover, associate director of development in the College of Arts and Architecture, at 814-863-2142 or e-mail give2blueband@psu.edu.