Overview:

Housing the College of Fine and Performing Arts, Bliss Hall, completed in 1977, was named in memory of William E. Bliss, a prominent area industrialist. Its facilities include the 410-seat Ford Theater, named for the Ford family; the 248-seat Bliss Recital Hall; an experimental theatre with flexible seating for up to 250; 80 music practice rooms, equipped with studio or grand pianos; a Schlicker performance organ and two Flentrop practice organs; 30 faculty office-studios which can be used for music instruction; a band/orchestra room with a library; a photography studio with 32 enlargers; a metals studio; fully equipped drawing, printmaking, sculpture, and painting studios; a MIDI/graphics computer lab; a video editing suite; a Mac-based graphic design laboratory with dye-sublimation printer; ceramics studios with gas, electric, raku, and salt kilns; a complete shop with heavy equipment for working in three-dimensional design; art faculty office-studios; a student lounge/art gallery; and conference and seminar rooms. Bliss Hall has recently seen major renovations to administrative offices. A new jazz rehearsal room, video production studies, and upgrades to art and sculpture areas were part of same renovation project.