New music center at University of Memphis to anchor arts corridor

The University of Memphis has applied for a building permit for its new music center. 

The $35 million permit was filed for 3800 Central Ave., where the planned 40,000 square-foot Scheidt Family Music Center would anchor a “Central Avenue Arts Corridor” at the university. 

The Corridor is meant to establish the university’s arts department as a destination for both the campus and for the City of Memphis, said Anne Hogan, dean of the College of Communication and Fine Arts.

“We just have such talented faculty and staff, and we’re excited to give the students the facility they really deserve,” Hogan said. 

The new building, expected to open in the spring of 2021, will be much more visible than the university’s current facilities, Hogan said. Construction should begin before Christmas.

Archimania, the architecture firm behind Ballet Memphis’s new Midtown location, is designing the project, along with Fleming Architects. Also part of the design team is theatre planning group Schuler Shook, which will provide expertise on the acoustics of the building. Schuler Shook worked in a similar capacity on the Ballet Memphis building.

The public can see photo and video renderings of the new space as part of an arts celebration on Oct. 5, where the university will also unveil its Central to the Arts Hub. Located at Central Avenue and Patterson Street, the Arts Hub will double as a pop-up gallery for student art shows and an information center for university arts programming.

University of Memphis music, theater and dance students will perform at the event, which will take place from noon to 4 p.m. at the Arts Hub.

Some Memphis middle and high school students will also perform. Getting kids onto the campus is important, Hogan said, especially since many may have never been on a university campus.

“They’re imagining, ‘Hey, I can come, I can study music or I can study art or theater or dance’ or whatever it is, and have a way to get a higher education,” she said. “And they’re already thinking about it, and feeling comfortable in our community.”

When complete, the Scheidt Family Music Center will be double the size of the current Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music building. By expanding classroom, performance, recording and rehearsal space, the new facility will allow the school to grow its music program and strengthen existing partnerships with Memphis Symphony Orchestra and Opera Memphis, Hogan said, as well as build new partnerships with the community. 

The new music center is one of several ongoing construction projects at the university. This week, the university also unveiled its pedestrian bridge, which spans Southern and Walker Avenues and the railroad tracks.

Laura Testino covers education and children's issues for the Commercial Appeal. Reach her at laura.testino@commercialappeal.com or 901-512-3763. Find her on Twitter: @LDTestino