The Campaign at Work – Gifts in Motion for Campus Environment

The Arthur Zankel Music Center

As part of a $42 million estate gift from Trustee Arthur Zankel—the largest individual gift in the history of the College, $15 million is serving as the lead gift for a new music facility to be located near the front entrance of the Skidmore campus.

Designed by the distinguished Philadelphia architectural firm of EwingCole and drawing upon the expertise of nationally recognized acousticians, theater designers, and landscape architects, this stunning new center will stand as both a welcoming beacon to visitors and a symbol of the College's deep commitment to creativity and the arts. Named in honor of a longtime Skidmore trustee and parent, the nearly 54,000-square-foot facility will include a 600-seat acoustically tuned concert hall that can be scaled up or down in size to accommodate both smaller and larger audiences, a state-of-the-art recording studio and an intimate, 100-seat lecture and recital room, as well as more practice rooms, classrooms, offices, and storage for student instruments.

Helen Filene Ladd '22 Concert Hall

The main concert hall in the Arthur Zankel Music Center will be named The Helen Filene Ladd '22 Concert Hall, celebrating Skidmore's long-standing relationship with the Ladd family and the Lincoln and Therese Filene Foundation. "Their wisdom and philanthropy thread throughout the history of the College and into its bright future," said Tom Denny, chair of the Music Department. The 600-seat, acoustically tuned concert hall at the heart of the magnificent new Music Center will allow the College to share the joy of world-class musical performance, teaching, and learning with the community on campus and off.