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$10 million new gift from Bob and Sheila Challey for expansion of fine arts center
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$10 million new gift from Bob and Sheila Challey for expansion of fine arts center

A decade after the North Dakota State University music department was renamed the Challey School of Music, its primary benefactor has made possible another big step.

Bob and Sheila Challey have funded a major expansion of Reineke Fine Arts Center on campus, with construction set to start any day.

John Miller, director of performing arts, said the near $10 million addition, at just under 10,000 square feet, will go up on the northwest corner of the building at 1511 12th Ave. N.

“It looks like a construction zone, and it looks pretty cool to those of us who have been waiting for it for a while,” Miller said.

Artist rendering of a brown brick building with black facade on upper story and words Challey School of Music

An artist rendering of a remodeled entry to Reineke Fine Arts Center and Challey School of Music on the North Dakota State University campus.Contributed / Foss Architecture

The expansion of Reineke Fine Arts Center is the latest step in the Challey family’s philanthropy, which began in 2006 as a scholarship endowment fund for graduate music students.

The project will add six spacious teaching studios and offices for faculty, adjunct staff and graduate students.

Senior white man speaks from a podium to a crowd. He stands before banners reading NDSU, North Dakota State University.

 “We’ll have greatly expanded facilities that will accomplish that goal, and I’m really proud of that,” Bob Challey said during a ceremonial groundbreaking for the project in late April.

A new 1,000-square-foot, two-story rehearsal space will be built, adding to the current larger rehearsal spaces for band and orchestra and for choirs.

“Both those facilities are booked all day long, and we have more ensembles and more need of space than the current spaces are able to accommodate,” Miller said.

Bill Law, assistant director of performing arts, said space is critical for musicians, not just for gathering but to enhance what they do.

“There’s a lot of science involved and the people we’re working with are top folks in the acoustics business,” Law said.

The addition will also include smaller practice rooms, extra storage and locker spaces, and a recording facility.

College students sing while wearing masks and standing far apart during a choir rehearsal. Their shadows are cast along the floor

The current building, constructed in 1982, was running short of space with the growing number of music majors and faculty, and the addition of 24 resident graduate students, Miller said.

The donation from the Challeys will also cover renovations of existing spaces inside Reineke Fine Arts Center.

A brick building with black details, Challey School of Music sign, and blue sky with clouds above

An artist rendering shows the revamped southeast corner of Reineke Fine Arts Center and Challey School of Music on the North Dakota State University campus.Contributed / Foss Architecture

Brent DeKrey, associate director of NDSU construction and maintenance, said that includes the facade on the southwest corner of the building at 12th Avenue North and Bolley Drive.

“We’re doing some updates with different paneling, windows and signage to make it kind of a prominent corner as you’re driving on campus,” DeKrey said.

Construction should take about a year, he added.


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