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Music Men: DePaul University Celebrates the New School of Music’s Building Composers

DePaul University Pro Musica Award

Allan E. Bulley, Jr. (L) and Joseph M. Antunovich (R) accept the Pro Musica Award at DePaul University’s School of Music’s Spring Gala.

Allan E. Bulley, Jr., executive chairman of Bulley & Andrews, and Joseph M. Antunovich, principal of Antunovich Associates, were honored May 23, 2018 with DePaul University’s School of Music’s Pro Musica Award. The award recognizes their extraordinary contributions to Chicago’s education and cultural institutions, specifically the new Holtschneider Performance Center.

The pair, and their respective teams, provided the perfect harmony of design and construction to create DePaul’s new School of Music. Innovative design, tireless attention to detail and quality craftsmanship are the cornerstones of the project. The result is a monumental building with inviting and bright spaces that mirror DePaul’s reputation for being a welcoming institution.

“Joe’s vision, exacting standards and generosity has given this project an unshakable foundation while Allan’s integrity and commitment to achieve success has helped the School of Music reach new heights,” said A. Gabriel Esteban, PhD, President of DePaul University. “We are delighted that the DePaul Music School’s Holtschneider Performance Center is a product of such collaborative success.”

DePaul School of Music Photos

The Holtschneider Performance Center is located along the west side of Halsted Street between Fullerton and Belden Avenues. In addition to teaching studios and rehearsal spaces, the new facility includes a concert hall, two recital halls, and a jazz hall.

The new, 186,000 sq. ft. Holtschneider Performance Center is the latest enhancement to the university’s Lincoln Park campus. It hosts a 535-seat concert hall, a 150-seat large recital hall, and a 80-seat small recital hall. Student rehearsal rooms, practice rooms, a jazz studio, a percussion suite and an ensemble room are also located in the upper floors of the building. It will serve as an incubator for the next generation of musicians, offering students, faculty, and guests a place to learn, grow, and excel.

“The main performance hall is an incredible feat of construction… It was like building a watch,” said Allan E. Bulley, Jr. “You’re building a steel structure piece by piece. The whole building is one of the greatest things [Bulley & Andrews] has ever done.”