Progress Report on the Home of the Resinski Black Box Theatre

The Connors Family Center for Fine Arts
(Home of the Resinski Black Box Theatre)

Progress Snapshot

JANUARY - MARCH 2018

• SFU announces plans to renovate space to construct a black box theatre in memory of Kenny Resinski. IKM Incorporated of Pittsburgh, a highly-regarded architecture and planning firm with extensive experience designing and creating performance venues, is retained as the project’s architectural firm.
• SFU hosts a symposium on the theatre to strategically inform the design, build support and enthusiasm for the project, and assess and identify sources of funding.
• The Resinski Black Box Theatre alumni fund-raising alumni committee is established; co-chaired by Christopher Collins ’73 and Bonnie Resinski. Committee members include Michael Martorella ’69, Alan Zajdel ’72, Mary Anne Majestic ’79, and Anita (Fusco) Baumann ’90.

MARCH 2018-MARCH 2019

Project fund-raising intensifies. Highlights:

• Alumni couple John ’64 and Shelia Connors ’65 provide the project’s lead gift. The University receives a six-figure estate gift from an alumnus restricted to the project.
• The University initiates three fund-raising challenges:
  • A $250,000 TKE challenge from an alumnus who will double match all TKE gifts up to $125,000, completing the initial three-million-dollar fund-raising goal for the Resinski Black Box Theatre. The Challenge is ongoing through December 2021 and has already generated $156,000 in matching funds.
  • A $10,000 Alpha Psi Omega challenge from an alumna who will match dollar for dollar up to $10,000. The Challenge has surpassed its goal, raising $52,000 from Alpha Psi Omega alumni and friends.
  • A $10,000 community challenge from an alumnus who will match dollar for dollar up to $10,000 through December 2021.

APRIL 2019

• The University establishes the Center for Fine Arts, bringing all areas into one academic center.
• Because of early fundraising success, Fr. Malachi announces the decision to move to a free-standing arts complex with the RBBT theatre as the signature piece rather than renovating the former garage space.

FALL 2020-SUMMER 2021

• IKM conducts user engagement seminars to gain consensus on design, critical programming needs, and building aesthetics with more than 100 stakeholders.

JUNE 2021

The University initiates a $25,000 1:1 challenge to the classes of 1970-1979 in support of the project. The Challenge will be launched in Fall 2021.

OCTOBER 2021

A ceremonial groundbreaking will be held October 1, 2021 during the annual Founders’ Day Celebration. Construction is slated to  began Summer 2022 with an anticipated opening for Fall 2023.

• Donate to the Black Box  project.
• Learn more about Fine Arts at SFU.