Music department to temporarily reside in Provost's House

When a series of long-anticipated construction projects begins on campus this summer, the music department will temporarily move to the Provost's House, and the department's current building will be completely demolished to make room for the new four-story undergraduate dormitory that will be built on Talbot Ave.

The Provost's House, located at 48 Professor's Row, will be vacated in early June. The house will then undergo minor, mostly cosmetic renovations to prepare for the arrival of the music department at the end of June. The department's new location will include a performance/seminar room, office space, and rehearsal space, Music Department Chair John McDonald said.

By the fall of 2006, the music department is expected to move to a permanent location on the corner of Packard Avenue and Professor's Row -- the current location of Zeta Psi. When it comes time for the music department to leave the Provost's House, its future use remains undetermined. "I'm sure it will continue to be used for academic administrative space," Roberto said.

The relocation of the music department highlights the struggle between the old and new aspects of campus. The old music department building will be demolished, and the Provost's House will no longer be used as a residence.

Built in 1854, the current music building is the second oldest building on campus and the residence of Tufts' first president, Hosea Ballou II. The building was originally situated between Ballou Hall and Professor's Row, but was moved in the early 1870's to make way for the construction of Packard Avenue.

The building will be completely eliminated to make way for new construction. Despite suggestions that some of the historic building be preserved, VP of Operations John Roberto said that there would be "rigors to relocate it... and anyway, the building might not be able to withstand a second relocation."

The Provost's House, currently the residence of Professors Sol and Robyn Gittleman, will not house faculty for the first time in 145 years -- a significant change for a street called Professor's Row.

Provost Jamshed Bharucha and his wife said they prefer to live off campus, and, after over 20 years of living on Professor's Row, the Gittlemans are set to return to their off-campus home in Winchester. According to Gittleman, President Larry Bacow allowed them to remain in the house for an extra academic year to "get organized, and get synchronized to get out."

According to both McDonald and Roberto, the Provost's House will adequately accommodate the department's needs. "The University has made and continues to make attempts to accommodate all our needs without compromising the program," McDonald said. "Our department will not be diminished at all by this interim move, and all courses and programs will continue as planned."

However, $3 million is still lacking in the projected $16 million necessary to build a new music building. Funds have to be raised from private donors, and all of the money must be secured before construction plans can begin, Roberto said. He projected that the earliest construction could begin would be May or June 2004.