Purdue University breaks ground on Hagle Hall, the new home of Bands and Orchestras

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Marc and Sharon Hagle joined Purdue University officials on Thursday (Nov. 12) for the groundbreaking ceremony of Marc and Sharon Hagle Hall, the new home of Purdue Bands & Orchestras.

Approved by the Purdue Board of Trustees in December 2019, the $20 million, 37,500-square-foot, four-story facility will be built at the southeast corner of Third and Russell streets. It will be along Third Street’s Student Success Corridor, which connects student residential areas with the campus’s academic center.

“This is a momentous day for Purdue Bands & Orchestras, its over a thousand current students and its more the 15,000 alumni around the world,” Purdue President Mitch Daniels said. “Thanks to the tremendous generosity of Marc and Sharon, as well as other donors to the project, our world-class program will have this wonderful new facility to develop and showcase its tremendous talents.”

The facility is named for Marc and Sharon Hagle in honor of their $10 million leadership gift.

“Sharon and I are excited about a world-class home for one of the best bands in the land,” Marc Hagle said.

From left, Purdue Provost Jay Akridge, trustee Vanessa Castagna, Marc Hagle, President Mitch Daniels, Sharon Hagle, director of bands Jay Gephart, and Vice Provost for Student Life Beth McCuskey take part in groundbreaking ceremonies for Marc and Sharon Hagle Hall on Thursday (Nov. 12). (Brent Russell/Purdue Bands)

Hagle Hall will provide dedicated space for the 134-year-old Bands & Orchestras program, which has operated in Elliott Hall since that facility’s completion in 1940.

Preparation work for the construction of Hagle Hall got underway in August. Gilbane Building Co., based in Providence, Rhode Island, is serving as construction manager. Purdue Bands & Orchestras anticipates taking occupancy in July 2022.

Since fall 2013, Purdue – which has no music school – has seen a 65% growth in participation in Bands & Orchestras and currently counts more than 1,036 students in more than 30 ensembles, concert bands and jazz bands, as well as the marching band. These students – 72% of whom are in STEM disciplines, including 41% in engineering – boast an average grade-point average of 3.28, which is higher than the campus average.

“We are excited about the future and for what this new facility will mean for all of our students,” said Jay Gephart, the Al G. Wright Chair, director of bands and professor of music. “What we have done and will do, as alumni and friends working together, will be remarkable.”

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to today’s toughest challenges. Ranked the No. 5 Most Innovative University in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at https://purdue.edu/.

Media contact: Aaron Yoder, yoder50@purdue.edu

Sources: Mitch Daniels, president@purdue.edu

Jay Gephart, jsgep@purdue.edu

Marc Hagle

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