Gilmour Academy breaks ground on performing arts center

Following the dedication of Figgie Field at Gilmour Academy last month, the private school located in Gates Mills kept its momentum going, swiftly hosted a groundbreaking ceremony last week for another highly anticipated project, The Lorraine and Bill Dodero Center for Performing Arts.

The complex will feature a 300-seat main theater, an 86-seat black box theater, a scene shop, costume shop, speech and debate practice rooms, and a presentation room and music ensemble enclave, in addition to an art gallery hall.

Students in the Lower, Middle and Upper Schools will be able to use the space and benefit from the expanded programs made possible by a building dedicated to the performing arts, according to a Gilmour Academy news release.

During the ceremoney, the school expressed its gratitude to Lorraine and Bill Dodero for providing the lead gift to jumpstart the project.

Corinne Dodero Salvador, Lorraine and Bill’s daughter, was involved in drama during her years at Gilmour, and came forth with the lead gift in 2015. The contributions of nearly 300 other donors allowed the school move forward with the endeavor.

“I know that this will be considered one of Gilmour’s most transformational projects,” said Lorraine Dodero. “The performing arts center will provide a hub for creativity, engagement and exploring for the academy’s arts community, and will provide support for education and common collaboration. In order to allow a child to grow and expand, we all need to help them show their voice and this is the beginning of it.”

Head of School Kathy Kenny added that the groundbreaking marks an important day in Gilmour’s history.

“We are so excited to break ground on this long-desired theater building,” she said. “This incredible facility will also enable us to build out arts programming for our students as well as the community. I couldn’t be more grateful to Lorraine and Bill Dodero and the many other donors who have made this dream a reality for our school.”

Gilmour has hired Willoughby-based ThenDesign Architecture as the project architect and Panzica Construction Company of Mayfield Village as the construction manager, the release stated.

Construction is expected to be complete in time for the start of the 2019-2020 academic year.

“Having been involved with theater for many years in Cleveland, I am thrilled to see an innovative Center for Performing Arts being built for Gilmour Academy,” said Tony Panzica, president and CEO of Panzica Construction Company. “Gilmour’s students will greatly benefit from the customized space, expanded programs and increased performance opportunities.”

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