This was a few months ago but they were trying to decide how to keep the dejong or simply tear it down and build a better hall.

Madsen could be revamped (one cool idea was a giant window to see the mountains - other schools have halls like this).

As a music grad, hfac was a nightmare to work in. The original building had a budget cut before/during construction so many rooms were undersized to meet that change. The big plazas were supposed to be filled in but engineers later determined that to be a bad idea. I don't remember the numbers from then (or current numbers of the school of music) but the building in regards to the school of music was originally designed for maybe 150 music students. With all the groups that are currently available, you see closer to 900+. With so many other fine arts in the building now, you have a lot of conflicts with the use of space. The main center of the building was intended to be used as a performance space (mimics a cathedral) but you will disturb classes and labs that other students are participating in. I would go back to the building sometimes after 9pm to practice in that space so I wouldn't bother those professors and students.

Scheduling was a bad. The byu groups didn't technically have access to the dejong full time to do rehearsals in preparations for concerts. Some other department/company managed the time of access and we would be lucky to have more than one day on the stage before performing. They would rent out the hall for many traveling groups on top of all the other events and performances.

Dejong was/is not a concert hall. It was intended to wear many hats but it's really only good for maybe Broadway and production shows. They have tried to fix it acoustically for years (lots of money wasted) but it was never quite right. For crying out loud, byu Idaho has a concert hall. Madsen was stupid noisy with those giant vents in the ceiling.


With the main campus drive closed, the semi truck ramp is useless. No one can bring the truck down the ramp anymore.