Campus Connection

Annett Recital Hall gets remodeled

UW-La Crosse faculty, staff and students are singing high praises about the remodeling of the campus recital hall. Completion of the $869,000 upgrade of Annett Recital Hall in the Center for the Arts is expected this week — just ahead of the College of Liberal Studies Music Department's Gala Saturday, Sept. 23. This is the first major upgrade of the nearly 250-seat recital hall since the Center for the Arts was built in 1973. The complete renovation included replacing lighting and electrical infrastructure, the air handling unit and the wall finishes around the stage. The surface of the stage was refinished and the ceiling clouds were repainted. The re-do also included new flooring, seating, and video projection and audio recording technology. [caption id="attachment_49847" align="aligncenter" width="685"] This was the first major upgrade of the 285-seat recital hall since the Center for the Arts was built in 1973. The re-do included new flooring, seating, video projection and audio recording technology — and more.[/caption] The project’s contractor was Fowler & Hammer, with funding from the UW System Instructional Space capital planning fund. Additionally, the university funded upgrading of the refinishing of the sound booth and backstage area. Scott Schumacher, Associate Director of Campus Planning, says remodeling began in early April. Crews were putting the finishing touches on last week. Professor Chris Frye, chair of the UWL Music Department, says the project is key for the department. “This renovation of Annett includes the most extensive improvements to our department's premiere performance venue since its creation in 1974,” says Frye. “Our students, faculty, and campus community will all benefit from these updates." Frye says the facelift kept the hall’s historical elegance, while bringing it into the future. "Those involved in this project should be congratulated for preserving the visual and acoustic aesthetics of the original space while creating a brighter, cleaner, more accessible and technologically effective performance space," he says. The hall is named for Thomas Annett who led the university’s band and orchestra program for two generations, from 1926-1962. Annett Recital Hall remodeling: Cost: $869,000 with funding from the UW System Instructional Space Fund Start: April 2017 Completed: September 2017 Contractor: Fowler & Hammer Scope of Work:

• Replaced lighting and electrical infrastructure; air handling unit; wall finishes around stage
• Refinished stage surface; ceiling clouds
• Installed new: flooring; seating; video and audio technology