Old turns to new as more art comes downtown

By: Kristian Beaudoin

Students of the school for creative arts program at the University of Windsor will now call the Windsor Armouries home.

As of March 22, 2018, two ribbon cutting ceremonies introduced two newly renovated facilities. The first taking place at the former Tunnel Bar-B-Q site, opened up a 20,000-square-foot arts space which includes film production, sonic art and editing studios.

The second was held at the armouries building, now holding a 66,000-square-foot centre containing music practice,  performance halls, a computer lab, photography studios, painting studios, library, classrooms, offices and a visual arts and built environment studio (VABE).

Both of these buildings are a part of the University of Windsor’s School for Creative Arts.

Vincent Georgie is the director of SOCA at uWindsor and is in charge of the facilities.

Georgie has ambitions for the success of students and sees the school as an excellent place for students who want to pursue an artistic career.

“We wanted to create an exceptional and creative learning space for students here at the school for creative arts and we thought of this as something nothing short of revolutionary to have a truly world-class facility here,” Georgie said.

Jason Gorssi is the faculty coordinator of the VABE program. He sees the school as a great location for students to not only develop the skills to succeed in arts but also develop positive feelings with peers.

“Our new home here in The Armouries is the perfect place where all of us are situated together in one building,” said Gorssi. “It will definitely help foster the conviviality and the interdisciplinary interaction between all of our different disciplines.”

Aidei Ra’leite is a music major at SOCA. Much like the staff that work in the facilities, he believes the school is an excellent place to learn.

With his studies in music and ability to work on his jazz through the school, Ra’leite is utilizing all of what the school has to offer.

“I think it is a fantastic design. It has a lot to offer in terms of resources, studio space, practice space and it feels like you are in a professional environment and we have a beautiful performance hall and beautiful practice rooms,” Ra’leite said.

With the addition of the new facilities in the downtown area, more doors open up for education and the University of Windsor gives a new and innovative way for students to learn how to create things.

“In addition to being a spectacular space, a great example of repurposing of an old building, and breathing new life into a heritage structure. Being downtown, it will also help us function better together as a creative arts community,” said Gorssi.