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By Ann K. Williams
Staff Writer
July 23 -- The Madison
Campus -- off limits for two
years due to construction --
will open its doors next month
when the Santa Monica College
music department moves into
its new digs on Santa Monica
Boulevard between 10th and 11th
streets.
Students will be starting classes
at the college’s newest
satellite campus on August 27,
and, although the grand opening
of the much-anticipated Madison
Theatre is still slated for
May, 2008, many other new facilities
at the site will be up and running
this fall.
"We're excited about having
a nice place with all our instruments,
equipment, archive materials
and more," said James Smith,
chair of the Music Department.
"We have more rooms and
great new equipment."
Students will have access to
27 practice rooms with pianos,
nearly double the 14 at the
Pico campus, and ten classrooms,
five of which are “smart”
classrooms complete with DVD
and computer accessories.
They’ll also be able
to avail themselves of a media
lab where they can learn new
technology in the audio arts,
while student ensembles can
perfect their craft in a “black
box” rehearsal hall.
But you won’t have to
enroll to be able to enjoy some
of these new amenities. The
rehearsal hall seats 120 and
is designed to accommodate musical
and theatrical performances.
And the 4,000-square-foot Peter
and Susan Barrett Art Gallery
will be re-opened this fall.
Also, while the gala opening
of the Madison Theater is planned
for next spring, the college
anticipates a “soft opening”
of the theater with performances
there next winter.
Topping all this off will be
a small library, a bookstore,
music department offices and
much-needed parking -- 300 spaces
in all, once the construction
crews move out.
The improvements have been
paid for with Measure U and
S bonds, passed by local voters
in 2002 and 2004.
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