Located
on the southeast corner of campus and appropriately designed
in the shape of a grand piano is Phillippe Performing Arts
Center (PPAC), the hub of IWU’s music and performance
scene. Complete with a large auditorium, a recital hall, practice
rooms, classrooms, and the Black Box Theater, this facility
offers 70,000 square feet of space devoted to learning, practicing,
performing, and student life in general.
Central and most prominent in the PPAC is its 1155-seat Phillippe
Chapel and Auditorium. Features in the auditorium include
excellent acoustics, comfortable seating, a versatile stage,
first-rate video and lighting capabilities, a hydraulic orchestral
pit, and 1,700 twinkle lights that are suspended from the
ceiling. Throughout the year, these elements serve as a backdrop
for numerous musical and theatrical performances, special
community events, and concerts. They also play host to IWU’s
chapel services.
On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays during the academic year,
duplicate chapel services are offered in the PPAC Auditorium
at 10 and 11 a.m. Here, students are able to worship their
Creator, to learn more about the Christian faith, and to experience
what it means to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Services are offered in a range of styles and formats, designed
to challenge and encourage college students while also taking
into consideration their unique interests and concerns. At
Indiana Wesleyan, chapel is a vibrant part of university life,
so student attendance is required* and faculty attendance
is strongly encouraged.
Elsewhere in the PPAC, you’ll find the RCA “Black
Box” Theater. Literally a big black box, this adaptable
facility allows for creative staging of performances within
an intimate setting. It often hosts productions by IWU’s
University Players, and it also provides a natural setting
for various university drama classes.
Open since the fall of 1996, the PPAC houses IWU’s Music
Department—so for music majors, minors, and enthusiasts
on campus, it’s a place for learning, practice, and
performance. Along with faculty offices and a number of classrooms
located in the facility, there are also computer labs equipped
with music software and twenty practice rooms available for
student use. Choir and Band Rooms serve as rehearsal sites
for the University Chorale, University Singers, the IWU Orchestra,
and the Jazz Band. In addition, the 180-seat Baker Recital
Hall serves a number of practical purposes—designed
to be used as a recording studio, it is commonly the site
for student performances and Senior Recitals.
*Depending on their individual class schedules, students
who commute to IWU might not be required to attend chapel.
An IWU Namesake
Phillippe Performing Arts Center is named in honor of Dr.
and Mrs. Thomas E. Phillippe, Sr., both IWU alumni. Longtime
supporters of the university, they provided for much of the
construction of the PPAC as well as upperclassmen apartments.
Dr. Phillippe has been a Trustee on IWU’s Board since
1977, currently serving as Chairman of the University Advancement
Committee.
Getting There
Phillippe Performing Arts Center, 4229 South Nebraska Street
The PPAC is located on the southeast corner of campus, on
South Nebraska Street between East 42nd and 43rd Streets.
It is south of the Recreation and Wellness Center and north
of the Athletic Complex, southeast of the Student Center,
and across the street from Phillippe Apartments.
From the intersection of East 38th and South Nebraska Streets,
proceed south on Nebraska for four blocks. Turn left (east)
onto University Boulevard, which is just before 43rd Street.
Turn into the first drive on the left (north), which takes
you into the PPAC parking lot.
Or from SR-15 (South Adams Street), enter campus at the main
east entrance (just north of East 45th Street) by turning
west onto University Boulevard. At the “T” intersection
100 yards ahead, turn right (north) and then immediately left
(west) into the large parking lot. The PPAC is straight ahead,
on the west end of the lot.
Parking
Parking is available to students and guests in the large lot
southeast of the PPAC.
