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NSU Breaks Ground on Johnson Fine Arts Center Renovation

The Johnson Fine Arts Center on the campus of Northern State University is undergoing a major renovation. University leaders officially broke ground for the $14 million project on Wednesday.

This may be the official groundbreaking ceremony, but behind the podium and ceremonial shovels, workers are already hauling dirt around the west side of the Johnson Fine Arts Center. NSU President Jim Smith says they’re preparing to lay a foundation for new offices and classrooms. He says they’ve nearly gutted the inside of the building.
 
“The stage had become old, the lift had become old, for the pit, and we just didn’t think that was symbolic of the kind of product we were putting out,” Smith says. “We were putting out a great product in a 42 year old building that really had not had a whole lot of changes in 42 years. So those things all came together to say it was time to do this project.”
 
The renovations increase the building’s square footage by more than 35 percent, and add a black box theatre, along with an art gallery. Terry Beckler is the incoming chair of the music department. He says the new infrastructure is exciting.
 

Breaking ground on the Johnson Fine Arts Center renovation project.

“We’re going to have more practice rooms for the students,” Beckler says. “Previously we had two functional practice rooms, and we’re going to have eight practice rooms. And the students were practicing in classrooms, wherever they could find a space. And the fact that the practice rooms will be more current with their use of technology. They’ll be able to push a button on four of the practice rooms and make it sound like a concert hall.”
 
Beckler says the new space brings a sense of excitement and renewed energy to the fine arts program. The building is expected to be performance ready in 2016.