University Park, Pa. -- A groundbreaking ceremony for the Blue Band's new indoor practice facility will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3, at the building site, located adjacent to the Blue Band practice field at University Drive and Services Road, University Park.
The Blue Band will perform before and following the groundbreaking ceremony.
The new building will feature a 9,000-square-foot practice area, faculty offices, storage space for instruments and uniforms, and display cases for the band's historic memorabilia. WTW Architects of Pittsburgh designed the structure, tentatively scheduled for completion in one year.
Founded in 1899 as a six-member drum and bugle corps, the Blue Band now has 281 members, including 233 instrumentalists, 32 silks, 14 majorettes, a feature twirler and a drum major. Members come from all academic colleges at University Park. The Blue Band has appeared in every major bowl game in the United States, including the Rose Bowl and the Tournament of Roses Parade.
Fund-raising continues for this new facility. The University has provided $2.5 million toward the $4.3 million project, including a third of a million dollars from the Penn State Alumni Association. In addition, for every two dollars donated to the new building, the Alumni Association will donate another dollar (i.e., the Association will give $50 for each $100 donation). Donors of $25,000 or greater may name a room within the facility. Donors of $1,000 can name a locker. Only 240 of these lockers are still available.
For information on the groundbreaking ceremony or to donate to this building project, call Brian Crownover at (814) 863-2142 or e-mail give2blueband@psu.edu.