University to Dedicate Hunter Smith Band Building Friday

Brick building with a long overhang in front of the entrance windows

The Hunter Smith Band Building will be dedicated Friday, on the eve of the first home football game. (Click for high-resolution version)

August 29, 2011 — The University of Virginia will host a dedication ceremony Friday for the new state-of-the-art Hunter Smith Band Building.

Friday's ceremony begins at 4:30 p.m. and will include remarks from University President Teresa Sullivan, Dean Meredith Woo of the College of Arts & Sciences, Rector Helen Dragas, band director Bill Pease and former Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Leonard Sandridge. It will include an unveiling of a plaque for the building and a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The $12.7 million facility, located on Grounds between Culbreth Road and the railroad tracks, contains three levels of rehearsal halls, practice rooms, instrument and uniform storage and offices, and will host the Cavalier Marching Band, as well as its subsets, the basketball band, Olympic sports ensemble, wind ensemble and concert band.

"It's been very emotional to have seen this grow and become this spectacular facility," Pease said. "It's exceeded all my expectations."

The project, designed by William Rawn Associates, was made possible by a gift from Hunter Smith, the building's namesake. Smith is a longtime supporter of the U.Va. band program, having jointly given $1.5 million with her late husband, Carl W. Smith, in 2003 to help start the marching band program.

The Hunter Smith Band Building is located at 180 Culbreth Road.

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Rob Seal

School of Continuing and Professional Studies