Arts and Sciences
CHALLENGE
Over the last five years, the exponential growth of the music program includes a full orchestra along with wind and chamber ensembles. Our musicians rehearse in the athletics film room and struggle to fit on the chapel stage for performances. Our theater program lacks cutting-edge technology; our chapel - built in 1962 - is not ADA compliant; and there is no loading dock for the transfer of shop and set materials. Our visual art facility - two retrofitted basement rooms - houses 250 students in areas with little natural light or storage and limited workspace.
In the 44 years since our science building was constructed, much has changed in the sciences. Our Science Center was built to accommodate Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. We're now teaching subjects that were research-level four decades ago - Molecular Biology, Materials Science, Environmental Science, and Robotics. Additional course offerings coupled with increased enrollment have exerted significant strains on space and schedules. Biology and Chemistry share cramped lab spaces, dissections occur outdoors because of poor ventilation, and Materials Science class is left to meet in whichever lab might be available. Lower School Robotics students must construct, program, and operate their robots in half of a classroom.
Over the last five years, the exponential growth of the music program includes a full orchestra along with wind and chamber ensembles. Our musicians rehearse in the athletics film room and struggle to fit on the chapel stage for performances. Our theater program lacks cutting-edge technology; our chapel - built in 1962 - is not ADA compliant; and there is no loading dock for the transfer of shop and set materials. Our visual art facility - two retrofitted basement rooms - houses 250 students in areas with little natural light or storage and limited workspace.
In the 44 years since our science building was constructed, much has changed in the sciences. Our Science Center was built to accommodate Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. We're now teaching subjects that were research-level four decades ago - Molecular Biology, Materials Science, Environmental Science, and Robotics. Additional course offerings coupled with increased enrollment have exerted significant strains on space and schedules. Biology and Chemistry share cramped lab spaces, dissections occur outdoors because of poor ventilation, and Materials Science class is left to meet in whichever lab might be available. Lower School Robotics students must construct, program, and operate their robots in half of a classroom.
OPPORTUNITY
For years MUS has found creative solutions to ensure that arts education is a curricular priority. With a new Center for the Arts, we can more deeply cultivate the artistic inclinations of our students, and we can better engage the community with more robust opportunities for our celebrated exhibits, performances, and productions. Research correlates participation in the arts to higher levels of academic achievement, thinking skills, and motivation, not to mention creativity, cultural literacy, and self confidence. The arts are central to to achieving the school's mission of developing well-rounded young men.
We provide leading-edge science courses, and our students and faculty will benefit from commensurate classroom, lab, and office spaces. A new Science Center with expanded lab space will afford students more opportunities for experiments, research, and robotics construction and programming, giving them an even greater advantage in college-level science and engineering. Flexibility of space will allow teachers across disciplines to collaborate and create projects that span the curriculum. A well-designed, contemporary building will also demonstrate to visitors our dedication to the advancement of the science disciplines.
Back
For years MUS has found creative solutions to ensure that arts education is a curricular priority. With a new Center for the Arts, we can more deeply cultivate the artistic inclinations of our students, and we can better engage the community with more robust opportunities for our celebrated exhibits, performances, and productions. Research correlates participation in the arts to higher levels of academic achievement, thinking skills, and motivation, not to mention creativity, cultural literacy, and self confidence. The arts are central to to achieving the school's mission of developing well-rounded young men.
We provide leading-edge science courses, and our students and faculty will benefit from commensurate classroom, lab, and office spaces. A new Science Center with expanded lab space will afford students more opportunities for experiments, research, and robotics construction and programming, giving them an even greater advantage in college-level science and engineering. Flexibility of space will allow teachers across disciplines to collaborate and create projects that span the curriculum. A well-designed, contemporary building will also demonstrate to visitors our dedication to the advancement of the science disciplines.
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Memphis University School
6191 Park Avenue | Memphis, TN 38119 | Main: (901) 260-1300