Alex Gelman, director of the NIU School of Theatre and Dance, photographs work to demolish the Stevens Building.
Rich Holly, dean of the NIU College of Visual and Performing Arts, and his colleagues in the School of Theatre and Dance are paying close attention to the demolition of the Stevens Building.
Holly posted photos of the work Monday under the headline “Excitement Mounts as Stevens Building Demo Gets Serious.”
Gov. Pat Quinn released $10.3 million for the Stevens Building and Cole Hall projects in January of 2010.
Rehabilitation plans for Stevens include a new, 6,000-square-foot lecture auditorium with tiered seating for up to 330 students, state-of-the-art teaching technology and the flexibility to be divided into three smaller rooms.
Other additions including adding about 10,500 square feet to the Black Box Theatre, which will feature a 30-foot ceiling, and 13,300 square feet to the scene shop. Workers also will put on a new roof, replace the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and modernize the plumbing and electrical wiring.
The Stevens Building opened in 1959.
