The Journal

Issue date: 9/6/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Max Gersh Construction workers level the ground Aug. 25 after demolishing the Music Annex to make room for more green space on campus.

Students continue to express frustration and fears about space constraints more than a week after construction crews razed the landmark Music Annex. The annex served Webster's music department for more than 20 years, but the building became dilapidated over time.

Formerly located between the Loretto-Hilton Center and the Thompson House, the annex was situated within a historic boundary line and therefore was voted on by a historical commission before any action was taken.

David Stone, director of Facilities Planning and Management at Webster, said leveling this building is consistent with the 1998 campus master plan. It will be made into green space.

"The entire area will be brought back to grade with clean fill and will be sodded as soon as the heat breaks," Stone said. "We will add trees later in the fall."

Junior Colleen Johnson, a piano studies major, said Webster has enough green space on campus. Johnson suggested putting in more parking for students in the area where the annex once stood.

"If you are going to take away the old building, at least give us back some parking," Johnson said.

Junior Drew Mantia, a guitar studies major, said tearing down the annex was not a good idea.

"We need the annex; we did so much in there," Mantia said.

Students who had previously used the Music Annex will now use a room in the new Community Music School building.

Mantia said he and other music students had more access to the annex and could practice any time they needed. He said he fears there will not be as much freedom to practice in the new building. Peter Sargent, dean of the Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts, said the new building will be nearly as accessible as the annex, staying open for practice until at least midnight.

Junior Henry Leacock said he that now that the annex is gone, there is one less space for musicians to practice.

"Percussionists and combo groups rehearsed in the annex," Leacock said. "Now, the CMS building is the only place for percussionists like myself to go practice. A lot of people are confused now about what our privileges are in the new building."

Continued...

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