CIM History: The Campaign For CIM

The CIM building at 11021 East Boulevard was designed to accommodate 150 conservatory students who primarily studied piano and voice. With CIM now offering a full orchestral curriculum to more than 400 conservatory students who share the facility with more than 1,700 students in the Preparatory and Continuing Education Division, a plan was developed to construct an addition to the University Circle facility that would provide an acoustically advanced performance space and relief from the overcrowded conditions.

The initial step in the expansion process was selecting project manager/cost consultant Stewart Donnell of Donnell Consultants, Inc. Next CIM selected Akustiks, a firm located in South Norwalk, Connecticut, as the acoustician for the project. The Institute then began work with Theatre Projects Consultants, Inc. to review and verify the project's program. Charles T. Young, Architects, based in New York and San Francisco, was chosen as the project's architect, and CIM awarded the construction contract to Donley's, Inc., a leading Cleveland-based construction management, design/build and general contracting firm. The local architect-of-record was Westlake Reed Leskosky.

The first gift to what would become known as The Campaign for CIM had been made by the late D. Robert Barber in December 1998, "for the future building campaign." On March 20, 2001, the formal resolution was made to commit to a $40 million campaign to add much-needed additional performance, practice, and teaching space. Campaign co-chairs were Dick Pogue and Barbara Robinson. By December 2004, 75% of the goal had been raised. The official "ice breaking" was held in February 2005, with the CIM Women's Committee bringing Doc Severinsen and his trio to Severance Hall to perform with Carl Topilow and the CIM Orchestra; Doc later joined local officials and others in shattering an ice gong to break ground.

In March 2005, The Kresge Foundation of Troy, Michigan, awarded the Institute a $1.25 million challenge grant, with payment contingent on achievement of the campaign goal by September 2006. In March 2006, the Board of Trustees organized itself into seven fundraising teams to work together in personally soliciting support from the community. The challenge grant was met in August 2006, when $40,107,152 had been raised. The Campaign for CIM was completed on September 30, 2007, with total attainment at $41,589,918 from 1,017 donors.

The expansion includes two wings: the Fred A. Lennon Education Building on the northeast corner of the existing structure; and the Recital Wing on the southwest corner.

On October 13 and 14, 2006, CIM celebrated the completion of "Phase One" of its expansion project with the opening of the Lennon Education Building. This building houses new practice rooms, administrative offices, a student lounge and terrace and a donor plaza. It is also home to the Kulas Foundation Center for International Music Education, with two new studios designed for the express purpose of music education with other music conservatories around the world and interactive videoconference sessions with school systems all over the U.S. The studios and control rooms are physically and acoustically separated from the surrounding building. The new C.K. "Pat" and Nancy Patrick Recording Center for the audio recording degree program was designed by CIM adjunct professor Peter D'Antonio. The goal was to focus on an audio control room and design a world-class facility for the school, based on the latest design theories and products.

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