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By Teresa Annas The Virginian-Pilot May 22, 2012 NORFOLK After nearly 25 years, the Governor's School for the Arts isfinally close to bringing most of its programs under one roof. The school, long housed in different locations, will announce a$2.5 million fundraising campaign today to help cover the costs ofrenovating and furnishing a downtown building to operate most ofits programs for the region's gifted young artists. Construction is expected to begin this summer on the Monroebuilding, at 254 Granby St., which has been the longtime home tothe school's theater program. All six floors will be renovated tomake it a state-of-the-art facility. "It has been a goal of the regional board for the past 24years to have all of our students in very close proximity, insteadof renting property all over the city," said Andrea Warren,the school's executive director. "It will enable us to do morecollaboration (among departments) than we already do." The fundraising announcement is scheduled to be made at a luncheonat the Town Point Club attended by arts leaders and featuringstudent presentations. Completion of the project is expected in time for the 2013-14school year, when the vocal music, instrumental music, musicaltheater, theater and visual arts departments will move in, alongwith the administration. The dance department will continue to hold classes at ToddRosenlieb Dance studio, also on Granby Street, and the 80-pieceschool orchestra will rehearse at the nearby Virginia Arts Festivalbuilding. Renovation of the Monroe Building will cost about $9 million. Ofthe $2.5 million the school plans to raise, $1 million will gotoward renovations, and the rest will pay for furnishings andequipment, Warren said. The school has pledges of more than $1 million, she said. The city owns the building, and the Norfolk Redevelopment andHousing Authority will oversee construction, Warren said. Theschool will pay its portion of the remaining $8 million through a30-year lease. Warren said last week that she could not release theschool's portion of the overall renovation costs. While the school will occupy 43,000 square feet of the MonroeBuilding, an additional 10,700 square feet, including dressingrooms and backstage areas, will continue to be part of the WellsTheatre. An interim home for the theater department is still being sought.Other programs will remain where they are until the Monroe reopens. The Governor's School serves 355 gifted high school arts studentsfrom eight area school districts. Those enrolled study academics attheir home schools and take part in advanced arts programs in theafternoons with Governor's School. Teresa Annas, 757-446-2485,teresa.annas@pilotonline.com. We are high quality suppliers, our products such as China CNC Precision Machining , CNC Machining Parts Manufacturer for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits CNC Machining Parts.
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