Expansion & Renovation

In 2006, CSB completed an $8.9 million expansion and renovation of the Bendicta Arts Center.  This project is a component of the CSB Capital Campaign "Our Place in the World, A Campaign to Inspire and Transform."

Leigh Dillard, CSB/SJU professor in the new dance studio

The BAC is now comprised of 173,000 square feet of creative space including:

• The newly renovated 1,078-seat Petters Auditorium
• The newly renovated 300-seat Gorecki Family Theater
• The new Colman Theater (a flexible 125-seat black box theater)
• The new Darnall Amphitheater (lawn seating for 200 plus people)
• The new Helgeson Dance Studio (pictured above)
• A new instrumental music rehearsal hall
• A chamber ensemble room
• New box office and administrative offices for fine arts programming

Other updates include air conditioning throughout the facility, accessibility improvements, and new sound and lighting for the Petters Auditorium.

The addition of these new performance and rehearsal spaces will allow for an expansion in the academic and public programming for the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University.  Longer extended residences with visiting artists in dance and theater will be possible as well as year-round programming in multiple theater spaces.