Ohio University in Athens has broken ground on the Chaddock + Morrow College of Fine Arts Violet L. Patton Center for Arts Education.
The Patton Center, named in recognition of a $50 million gift from the late Violet Patton, is central to the university's $99.2 million plan to enhance arts education and community engagement.
The center will have a 350-seat proscenium theater and rehearsal hall, as well as a lobby dedicated to fostering connections among students, faculty, and community members. The facility will have an art gallery and exhibition spaces to showcase student and artist work.
The Patton Center is part of a broader initiative to transform the university's arts facilities into more interdisciplinary, innovate and collaborative places. Major renovations are also planned for Seigfred Hall, which houses the School of Art + Design.
The overall goal is to create an Arts + Education Green that brings together the College of Fine Arts' six schools and four professional arts programs.
About the Author
Mike Kennedy
Senior Editor
Mike Kennedy has been writing about education for American School & University since 1999. He also has reported on schools and other topics for The Chicago Tribune, The Kansas City Star, The Kansas City Times and City News Bureau of Chicago. He is a graduate of Michigan State University.