Naugle Performing Arts Center by Mark Karrer ‘73, President, Board of Trustees 6 “By being visible from Harlem Road, this new theater will serve as a gateway - a basic statement of welcome, and a positive presence for all to see.” - Duo Dickinson ‘73 At the beginning of this school year, we announced plans to construct a theater and art gallery that could house and support Park’s outstanding fine and performing arts programs. Ignited by the two largest donations in the school’s history, we began to work with renowned architect and Park alumnus Duo Dickinson '73 to refine and redefine the initial design and to produce drawings that would allow us to get a reliable estimate on the cost of the project. Duo was my Park classmate, beloved by our whole class. He was inspired to become an architect because of the Park arts faculty. He has established an architecture practice in Connecticut and around New York City, has taught architecture at Yale and the University of Hartford, and has published eight books on design and architecture while also hosting his own radio show. Duo immediately saw that we could build the theater and gallery space the school needs more quickly and less expensively if we expanded the existing theater instead of taking up green space with a free-standing facility. Enchanted by the project, he generously agreed - pro bono - to meet with stakeholders to produce a model and schematic drawings of what such an expansion of the Helen Long Building would look like. Over the winter, he shared his initial design with Park’s teachers, board members, administrators, students, interested parents, and the lead donors of the project. Each constituency was thrilled with his vision. Duo incorporated everyone’s suggestions, and we now have a rendering that satisfies our programmatic, aesthetic, and site needs. His design is functional, simple, and elegant. Perched on the west side of Helen Long, the edifice would be visible from Harlem Road, its lovely curved glass and beam exterior providing a new, aesthetically pleasing presentation and invitation for all who pass by. It would also be close to parking, while maintaining the lovely expanse of lawn between the Children’s House, playground and Helen Long. All costs for this first phase are covered by philanthropy. We are committed to paying for the costs of the new building with donations, so we will progress through the construction phases as our Power of Park capital campaign continues to raise money. The total amount of the project, including hard and soft costs, will be between $6-7 million. Park is still, in spirit and in philosophy, the Park that changed my life and the lives of my classmates - classmates like Duo Dickinson and so many others. I believe with all of my heart in the good this school does for its students and the good its students and teachers do for Park. If you have any questions or if you would like to join our campaign to grow Park’s capacity to serve future generations, please get in touch with us. "You're very lucky to be at Park. Other schools, you are only a fish in the huge swimming pond, and you have to go along with all the other fish. At Park, your mission is to be yourself and do great things. And Park has teachers to support your mission of being yourself and doing great things - I know it because they did it for me. You are in a place that cares more about you and your life success, not just the success you have here at this moment. Park is a gift, and there is a mission here unlike anywhere else." - Duo Dickinson '73 in a January meeting with Park students
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