Capital Contributions

In 2023, Jacksonville State University officially acquired the former First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, allowing for expanded programming and services to be provided through the Randy Owen Center for the Performing Arts. The existing 50,957 square foot facility is situated on 6.65 acres, adjacent to JSU’s existing property, and the spaces will be able to be repurposed as a 450-seat recital hall, general education classrooms, office/studios, a music academy for the community, creative cooperative spaces and campus event spaces, with minimal renovation. Several existing spaces will be renovated as a recording studio and backstage suite and included in the new construction of the 1,000 seat Phil & Denise Webb Concert Hall and Pi Kappa Phi Lobby.   

The following spaces remain available for naming:  

  • Education Wing | $6 Million – The existing structure will be renovated to accommodate our growing music technology program, general education classes, faculty/staff offices, the JSU Music Academy, and creative co-op classes.  
  • 450-seat Recital Hall |$2 Million – This performance space will be equipped with technology to accommodate everything from performances and concerts to film screenings and lecture presentations. It will also be multipurpose rentable space for external community events.  
    • Pews | $5,000-10,000 
    • Stained Glass | $50,000 
  • Rehearsal Hall |$500,000 – This event space will be outfitted with technology and equipment to host rehearsals for competitions, breakout sessions for conferences, classes with special topics in dance, including our theatre and music department needs, our Colorguard and Winterguard needs, and Ballerinas. This space can also accommodate 150-200 for a seated meal or other type of event.  
  • Backstage Artist Suite | $50,000 – This area is the hall and back of house area to be used by touring and event groups, housing company management, the greenroom, and four dressing rooms. 
  • Greenroom | $250,000 - The Greenroom is used for back of house hospitality, with room for lounge and catering.  
  • Star Dressing Room | $100,000 - The Star Dressing Room is in the new construction, just off the stage, to provide easy and quick access for performers. 
  • Ensemble Dressing Rooms (2) | $75,000  - The Ensemble dressing rooms accommodate 10-12 performers, as they dress and prepare for performances.  
  • Company Management | $50,000 - Company Management is located at the back of house and used by touring and event groups to serve as their command center on event day. 
  • Small Dressing Rooms (2) | $25,000  - The Small Dressing rooms accommodate four performers, as they dress and prepare for performances.   
  • Recording Studio | $250,000 - The planned Recording Suite for the Randy Owen Center includes two isolation booths, one for vocals and one for percussion, a studio capable of holding small instrumental ensembles, and a suite large enough to accommodate our music technology classes. 
  • Control Room | $150,000 – This space will be utilized to cross train our students on studio recordings and digitally connected to both the concert hall and recital hall, to allow for live mixing and recording events experience. 
  • Isolation Booths (2) | $25,000 each 
  • JSU Music Academy | $50,000 - JSU Music Academy program provides music lessons to children and others in the community. The planned Randy Owen Center includes spaces dedicated for the JSU Music Academy, including one large space with piano for ensemble work and four practice rooms. 
  • Music Academy Practice Rooms (4) | $10,000 - Each practice room will be acoustically outfitted and have a piano, like our current practice rooms with Mason Hall.  
  • Creative Co-Op | $50,000 - These spaces connect the undergraduate classroom with entrepreneurial opportunities and real-life clients, ranging from professional writing for marketing, graphic design and film to other mediums needed and used by regional businesses and working with real clients from proposal pitch to final production. 
  • Studios (6) | $25,000 - This facility will provide needed studio space for our student artists, helping fill the gaps in collaborative community space accessibility and affordability.  
  • The Roost | $100,000 – This event space on the second floor of the existing structure and education wing can host both external event rentals and student organization meetings and events, complete with a small kitchen and technology.  
  • Speakeasy Classroom | $50,000 - Students in both Creative Writing and Jazz have often sought places in the community for performance and rehearsal, and this space provides room for both class and performance.  


Additional Naming Opportunities 

  • Randy Owen Museum - $350,000
  • Southerner’s Exhibit - $200,000 
  • Courtyard East - $75,000 
  • Courtyard West - $75,000 
  • Dean’s Suite - $60,000 
    • Admin Associate Office - $15,000 
    • Assistant to the Dean Office - $15,000 
    • Associate Dean Office - $15,000 
    • Admin Associate Office - $15,000 
    • CAHS Workroom - $15,000 
    • ROC Project Director Office - $15,000 
    • Technical Director Office - $15,000 
  • Choral/Lecture Hall - $50,000
  • Conference Room (2) - $50,000 
  • General Education Classrooms - $25,000-$35,000 
  • Gallery Coordinator Office - $20,000 
  • Team Rooms - $15,000 
  • Offices - $10,000 
  • Office/Studios - $10,00