New construction at Mason Hall

This $7.9 million renovation of Mason Hall is funded by the New York State Construction Fund. Mason Hall is the oldest building on the SUNY Fredonia campus. Construction started in 1939 and was completed in 1941. It has been expanded twice, once in 1960 and once in the early 1970s.

The current project will remove the first story portion of the 1960s addition (known as Mason Annex) and rebuild it, adding a new 503-seat recital hall. The recital hall is a significant feature of the new construction and will offer new versatility to the School of Music's performance calendar. It will be named the Juliet J. Rosch Recital Hall, after Ms. Rosch, a benefactress to the School of Music, and a graduate of the Fredonia Normal School.

Mason Hall's original recital hall, Diers Recital Hall, will continue to be an important center for performances and classes.

In addition to the recital hall, the new two-story structure will encompass a new lobby, faculty offices, an 880-sq. foot classroom, a recording studio with drum and vocal booths, and a control room with equipment and editing rooms.

Preserving the building's character

Historic preservation is in mind for all the changes to be made to the original structure, as well as the new, according to the stringent standards set by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

The architectural design of the new construction calls for masonry brick on the exterior to match the brick of Old Mason, and an outdoor plaza on the east side of the building facing the quad. The new construction will be covered with a standing seam copper roof.

All the original windows will be replaced with new thermal, double-hung windows to match the existing profile.

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