User:Jahrber/draft/Seretean Center for the Performing Arts

The Seretean Center for the Performing Arts is located on the campus of Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The Center hosts all the university's major dramatic and musical events.

History
Built as 75,000 square-foot facility, the Center houses the 600-seat Vivia Nail Locke Theatre and a 800-seat concert hall along with multi-media labs, practice rooms, and spaces for studios, and several classrooms. The Center also houses the Department of Music and the Department of Theatre. The Center was built on the site of Williams Hall, which was built in 1901, and served the humanities, religion and speech departments. The Hall was torn down to accommodate the 3 million dollar facility.

On July 1, 1969 the Center's ground breaking ceremony was attended by the facility's namesake, M.B. "Bud" Seretean and his wife. A 1949 Oklahoma A & M College graduate with a business degree, Mr. Seretean went on to become the co-founder and president of Coronet Industries, Inc. Funds for the building project were raised through a campaign with Mr. Seretean, a principal donor, giving half a million dollars. The official dedication of the Seretean Center for the Performing Arts occurred in April, 1971. Mrs. and Mrs. Seretean returned to the campus along with his personal friend, Jim Nabors, the entertainer, who also participated in the dedication services. The building plagues notes the architects of the building project as Locke-Smith-Wright, Chaplin B. Bill and Associates, and the contractor as [[Tulsa Rig, Reel and Manufacturing Company] .] In 2006, another campus facility, the Wellness Center, was renamed the Seretean Wellness Center to honor Mr. Seretean as a benefactor and his sustaining financial support to the university.

Art
On the west side of the Center, the sculpture, "David with Harp" was dedicated to the OSU University on April 1, 1998. Attending the dedication was Mr. and Mrs. M.B. "Bud" Seretean who gave the bronze sculpture to the OSU University. The sculpture was created by Victor Halvani, an Israeli artist.

Renovations
President Burns Hargis announced on October 30, 2014 plans for a new performing arts center. The new center will feature a 1,100-seat concert hall, a 200-seat recital hall, 30 practice rooms, classrooms, and studios. The design also features an outdoor amphitheater with a stage and 1,000-foot screen to broadcast performances outside to a 1,000-seat audience. As part of the plans, the Seretean Center for the Performing Arts is to be renovated. The theatre department will remain in the Center and the music department will move into the new facility.