表演艺术中心揭幕剪彩仪式

Emilie Jenson, Public Information Office
4/19/2024

周五下午，爱荷华州中央校区的人群聚集在新装修的德克尔礼堂和表演艺术中心外，这是近两年来首次向社区开放。

在盛大的开幕庆典之前，一个官方剪彩与大堡道奇增长联盟纪念这一事件。

“We wish to extend a huge congratulations to Iowa Central, The Iowa Central Board, Dr. Ulrich, the Decker Family, the students and most importantly, our community,” said Matt Johnson, speaking on behalf of the Growth Alliance. “This space will not only enhance the lives of students here, but also the families of this community for years to come.”

随着倒计时的到来，爱荷华中心剧院主任特蕾莎·杰克逊在爱荷华中心教职员工、学生、社区成员、捐赠者和董事会成员的欢呼声和掌声中，用金剪刀剪彩。

“All I can say is that it feels like Christmas in April,” said Jackson. “We got what we have wanted for our students, for our staff, and for our community. 德克尔礼堂一直是我们校园的锚和爱荷华中心是我们社区的心跳的一部分。 我们的团队充满了感激之情。 We have given this ‘grand old dame’ the most beautiful facelift and it is now a stunning gift of a space we want to share with all of you: the community, the businesses, the amateurs and professional performers. 我们将解开这个美丽的空间，我们将在未来的岁月里珍惜和保护它。 Thank you beyond measure.”

爱荷华中央大学校长杰西·乌尔里希博士说，这项耗资1450万美元的工程是礼堂近50年前建成以来的第一次重大翻新。 它由公共和私人基金共同资助。 Approximately $3 million in private donations were raised in the first phase of the “Dream Big, Act Now” Campaign. 从2018年2550万美元的债券发行中额外拨出300万美元用于协助该项目。

“This was truly a private/public partnership,” Ulrich said. “And why did we do it? It would have been easy to do a lot of different things with $14.5 million, but our community believes in the fine arts, our community believes that our students deserve to come to college and have a college experience with a mini university feel where they can take their passions and be on stage and perform at a higher level.”

Ulrich went on to say that the 1,100-seat facility is the largest performance venue in Iowa Central’s nine-county region.

“We didn’t just build it for our students,” he said. “Over 50,000 people go through this building every year. 它是我们校园的基石，是我们拥有的最公共的建筑。 It is part of the community.”

道奇堡的唐·德克尔和黛安·德克尔夫妇向竞选活动捐赠了100万美元，成为第一笔捐款。 自2006年以来，礼堂一直以德克尔家族的名字命名。 德克尔认为，他的父母，已故的戴尔和唐娜·德克尔，有远见，投资爱荷华中心，并为道奇堡和周边社区提供了什么。

“It is truly gratifying to see what was started by my parents 40 years ago carry on today,” said Don Decker. “Adding to their vision and seeing it become bigger and better than their original wishes is a dream come true.”

Inside the Center for Performing Arts, freshman Elle Clark, who will portray Belle in Iowa Central’s upcoming production of “Beauty and the Beast," delivered the first performance on the stage in the newly revamped auditorium.

“It is one of the highest honors I have ever had to be able to be the first to set the stage and welcome everyone who will come through these doors,” said Clark.

新空间包括最先进的音响系统、声学镶板、升级的照明控制、新的座位、扩大的更衣室、16个新的洗手间装置、一个更新的管弦乐队坑、一个新的t台、一个乐队室、布景建筑商店、教室和会议空间、一部电梯和符合ADA标准的座位和舞台通道。

“It is an absolute dream come true,” said Paul Bloomquist, director of bands at Iowa Central.

“We are so happy to be back home,” said Will Lopes, Iowa Central director of choral activities. “We can not wait to express our gratitude to the community through our talents for many years to come.”