Raising the Roof on the George Steinbrenner Band Building

On August 21, 2007, President Bernard Machen joined College of Fine Arts administrators in celebrating the construction of the new state-of-the-art George Steinbrenner Band Building at a Raise the Roof ceremony. 

With musical accompaniment by members of the UF Gator Band, President Machen, sports officials and College of Fine Arts and School of Music deans and directors helped raise the roof by laying bricks in the wall of the new building at the construction site on Newell Road. 

The new 19,000-square-foot band facility, located adjacent to the School of Music, will provide a 5,600-square-foot rehearsal space for 10 to 12 band ensembles, a band library, instrument and uniform storage, administrative offices, a conference room and two large lobby areas. 

The $9.3 million building, designed by West Palm's Zeidler Partnership Architects Inc, will be ready for occupancy in summer 2008.

The new band building -- constructed with generous donations from New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, Stephen Stills of Crosby, Stills and Nash, the University Athletic Association and numerous friends of music -- represents the first phase of an ongoing project to install state-of-the-art facilities at the School of Music to serve UF's students, faculty and community. 



Name a Seat, Take a Bow

Play an important role in the School of Theatre and Dance by giving $300 to name a chair in the newly renovated Constans Theatre. By doing so, a plaque bearing the name of the person you wish to honor will be attached to a chair. The generosity of our many chair donors will be recognized for years to come.

Here are some wonderful examples of recent major gifts to the college:


College of Fine Arts Dedicates New Nadine McGuire Theatre and Dance Pavilion

Despite interference from two hurricanes, September 9, 2004 marked the date of the Nadine McGuire Theatre and Dance Pavilion dedication. Benefactors Dr. William and Nadine McGuire, UF President Bernie Machen, actor Stephen Root, Carolyn Roberts of the Florida Board of Governors and Al Warrington of the UF Board of Trustees participated in the dedication program which ended with a ribbon cutting and dance provided by School of Theatre & Dance students. As part of the festivities, guests enjoyed boxed lunches while watching Greek theatre in the amphitheatre and, afterwards, toured the facility. The dance and acting studios, lighting lab and costume design areas were filled with faculty and students demonstrating how the marvelous new facilities are being utilized.

William W. and Nadine M. McGuire of Wayzata, Minn. gave the University of Florida College of Fine Arts $2.5 million to complete construction of a 46,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art theatre and dance facility in the heart of campus and to renovate the existing Constans Theatre. The gift symbolizes another leap in the national prominence of UF's fine arts programs.

"Universities serve as the heart of training, transforming and inspiring young people in the arts," said Nadine McGuire. "The theatre and dance program at the University of Florida is full of burgeoning potential, and Bill and I see our gift as a great investment in facilitating that potential."

The McGuires developed an interest in UF's theatre and dance program last fall after visiting the UF campus and learning of these plans and responded with their gift. "The arts are central to the mission of the University of Florida," said UF President Bernie Machen. "By investing in the arts at UF, the McGuires further enable us to be recognized as a first-tier university in every aspect.”

Acting Studio Donated by Stephen Root

Stephen Root, one of the most prolific character actors in Hollywood, attended UF in the 1970s. He has remained a Gator fan, returning to campus in spring 2003 to conduct a Q&A session with students. His loyalty to UF, and memories of a drama class that altered his life, spurred Root to donate $100,000 for an acting studio bearing his name in the new theatre and dance building. At the September 2004 dedication of the Nadine McGuire Theatre and Dance Pavilion, Root told the Gainesville Sun that he’s not among those who elevate the work of entertainers above all professions. “People do great work everywhere. You just happen to see mine because it’s in entertainment.”

Miles Wilkin honored at Commencement

Miles Wilkin has parlayed his UF education into a Tony Award-winning career. In 2001 he accepted a Tony Award as one of the producers of “The Producers” the hit Broadway musical. For his outstanding contributions to the world of theatre and dance Wilkin was honored by UF as a distinguished alumni at the Fall 2003 commencement.

Wilkin has remained a true friend to UF and the College of Fine Arts. In 2002, Wilkin hosted a capital campaign fundraising event for UF in New York City. He also served on the College of Fine Arts steering committee. He recently made a $100,000 gift for the new theatre and dance building where an acting studio is named in his honor. He also funded an ongoing master class series “Profiles in American Theatre” which has featured Broadway composer Frank Wildhorn and award-winning Broadway lighting designer Paul Gallo.


Stephen Stills Contributes to UF Marching Band Building

Legendary rock musician Stephen Stills is making sure the UF marching band has a roof to practice under. He recently gave $100,000 through the Stephen Stills Children’s Music Project to help fund a new facility for the UF band Program. In recognition of his gift, the 4,500-square-foot band rehearsal room will be named the “Stephen Stills Band Rehearsal Room.”

Stills’ connection with UF dates to when he lived in Gainesville as a child. He attended Gainesville High School in 1962-63 and enrolled in UF in 1963, only to leave shortly after for a career in the music industry. His ties with the College of Fine Arts resulted in his return to campus in fall 2003 for a talk in the Florida Frontier Lecture Series where the audience was treated to an impromptu mini-concert.


UF Carillon Restored

A $450,000 gift from the estate of Larry A. Webb made possible the major upgrading of UF’s Century Tower carillon. Webb’s generous gift funded 12 additional bells, clavier, clockstrike mechanism & the purchase of computer software and hardware. The additional bells will bring the total number to 61, ranking UF’s carillon as one of the largest among university carillons.

Funds remaining after the equipment purchases will now be used for an endowment dedicated to a visiting professor/artist series and student fellowships for the carillon. For additional information about the history of Century Tower, please visit www.arts.ufl.edu/Music/Carillon.html.