An explosive start

Chris Morris of Pulaski, Tenn. shoots video of a controlled explosion outside the fine arts center on Monday morning.

Caitlin Carter

Chris Morris of Pulaski, Tenn. shoots video of a controlled explosion outside the fine arts center on Monday morning.

Blasts for the new music hall – which started this past Wednesday and will last for three weeks – will occur three times per day, Capital Project Manager Kerra Ogden said.

Each day, the blasts will occur at about 9:45 a.m., 11:35 a.m. and 3:15p.m. Ogden said she hasn’t come across any safety concerns.

“We’re going above and beyond to keep all of the faculty, staff and students safe,” she said.

The 26,000-square-foot building will house two rehearsal halls, a music library, commons spaces, administrative faculty offices and storage spaces.

According to agenda materials from the October Board of Regents Meeting, the budget for the project is $9,153,000, funded partially through agency bonds. The building is scheduled to be complete in December 2011.

Andrew McMichael, assistant dean of Potter College, sent an e-mail to faculty and staff on Nov. 22 that encouraged them to be sensitive to student veterans who might react negatively to the blasts.