Center for Performing Arts construction funding released, construction underway at WIU

MACOMB, Ill. — A formal groundbreaking was held Friday, Oct. 7 with Gov. J.B. Pritzker and other leaders for the state-funded Center for Performing Arts on the Western Illinois University-Macomb campus.

River City Construction, LLC, of Peoria has been selected as the general contractor. Construction on the center began Sept. 1.

The project is part of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital plan. The Capital Development Board will oversee the project’s design and construction in accordance with the protocol for state-appropriated projects.

In a press release, Pritzker said, “Our Rebuild Illinois capital plan isn’t just about our roads and bridges, it’s about our universities too. After nearly 50 years, I am thrilled that Western Illinois University will receive state funding for the construction of the Center for Performing Arts. This will not only provide WIU students with a state-of-the-art performance facility but also give our western Illinois communities a place to gather and enjoy all that the arts have to offer.”

The 100,000-square-foot building will offer classrooms, offices, practice rooms, studios and performance spaces. The Great Hall, a 900-seat Proscenium Theatre, will provide an ultramodern performance space for music, theatre and dance productions as well as regional and national touring performances, while the smaller Black Box theatre will provide a more intimate space for campus productions.

“We appreciate Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Deputy Governor for Education Martin Torres, the General Assembly and the Capital Development Board for continuing to move forward on this much-anticipated, iconic Center for Performing Arts,” WIU president Guiyou Huang said.

“We look forward to watching the building construction progress and anxiously await the day we can celebrate the grand opening. The Center for Performing Arts will enhance Western’s academic distinction and provide our region with contemporary music, dance, and theatre facilities. This is a true investment for WIU and west-central Illinois.”

The Center for Performing Arts, the first state-funded building for WIU since the 1970s, will allow the College of Fine Arts and Communication to consolidate into a more centralized location and provide academic and performance opportunities that rival the excellence of Western’s programs.

“The Illinois Capital Development Board is eager to begin a partnership with Western Illinois University on this robust performing arts facility,” Capital Development Board executive director Jim Underwood said. “The new facility will provide economic opportunities for west central Illinois and an elevated learning experience at one of Illinois’ premier public universities.”

To make up for the increased construction costs, which recently came in at $110 million, the CDB, working with Western, has agreed to leverage funding from another project on WIU’s priority request list. The CPA has been the top priority on the Western’s capital development list since 2006 and has been in some form of planning and/or discussion since December 1972.

“The Center for Performing Arts will cement the foundation of excellence that is performing arts at Western Illinois University. When the center is complete, WIU will be the destination for arts and culture in our region and beyond,” College of Fine Arts and Communication Dean Billy Clow added. “So many people have put their hearts and souls into this dream over the years, and the sight of bulldozers finally makes this dream a reality. From our current students to scores of future Leathernecks, this center will be the cornerstone of an outstanding educational experience at WIU.”

Cannon Design, Inc. is the architect-of-record overseeing construction. Pelli Clarke Pelli is the architectural design firm. The building is expected to be completed by fall 2024.