Kilbourn Hall Renovation 2016

(Photos by Kurt Brownell unless otherwise noted)

In April 2016, the University of Rochester’s Eastman School of Music announced two gifts totaling $700,000 to support substantial renovations to the school’s historic Kilbourn Hall. The Avangrid Foundation committed $400,000 to the project and the Kenneth and Myra Monfort Charitable Foundation Inc. contributed $300,000.

The Avangrid Foundation, on behalf of its subsidiary Rochester Gas and Electric, is dedicated to supporting projects and organizations that enhance the quality of life in its local communities. In recognition of this gift, the lobby of Kilbourn Hall will be named in honor of Avangrid Foundation.

Support from the Monfort Charitable Foundation comes from longtime patrons of the Eastman School of Music Myra Monfort and her husband, Eastman alumnus William Runyan ’73E (MA), ’83E (PhD). In recognition of their gift, the stage at Kilbourn Hall will be named in their honor.

The renovation plans will preserve Kilbourn Hall’s unparalleled acoustics while enhancing the audience experience through seating, lighting, and stage upgrades. A portion of the project budget will be devoted to adding an elevator backstage to make the stage fully ADA accessible. Refurbishments will take place in the summer of 2016 and the hall will reopen for the 2016–2017 academic year.

: July 7, 2016–The seats and carpeting in Kilbourn Hall have been removed.

: July 7, 2016–Another view of Kilbourn Hall

: July 7, 2016 — Some of the old seats wait on the Kilbourn Hall stage to be removed.

: July 7, 2016–Another view of beginning renovation work

: July 7, 2016–Breaking through the wall where the elevator will go.

: July 7, 2016–Where the elevator will be going in Kilbourn Hall

: July 13, 2016 — Renovations continuing

: July 13, 2016 — Renovations continuing

: July 13, 2016 — Renovations continuing

: July 13, 2016 — Another view of where the elevator will be installed.

: July 20, 2016 — Painting/prep and priming has been done and one week of cure time follows.

: July 20, 2016 — Painting/prep and priming has been done and one week of cure time follows.

: July 20, 2016 — Painting/prep and priming has been done and one week of cure time follows.

: July 20, 2016 — Painting/prep and priming has been done and one week of cure time follows.

: July 20, 2016 — Painting/prep and priming has been done and one week of cure time follows.

: July 20, 2016 — Painting/prep and priming has been done and one week of cure time follows.

: July 27, 2016 — Chairs will soon be delivered and installed.

: July 27, 2016 — Some old chairs still provide a place to sit on the stage.

: July 27, 2016 — Work on the elevator proceeds.

: July 27, 2016 — Another perspective on the elevator, near the Mahar Green Room

: August 2, 2016 — Close-up of carpetless floor and steps

: August 2, 2016 — New chairs are getting installed in the center.

: August 2, 2016 — Chair installation taking place

: August 2, 2016 — View of elevator installation and exit to Barrett Alley