Soka University invites community to witness
“Topping Off”
of new 1000-seat Performing Arts Center
on Sept. 29, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Aliso Viejo, CA – A 300-ton crane will swing the last of four 114 foot long steel trusses into place on the roof of Soka University’s new 1000-seat performing arts center on Tuesday, September 29th at 12:30 pm. Interested community members are invited to join in viewing this historic moment from the campus overview located near the lily ponds.
The trusses are so large that they will have to be transported at night under California Highway Patrol escort.
Soka University’s new Performing Arts Center and the adjacent new classroom building under construction at the same time have a combined budget of $73 million. They are being built with a combination of structural concrete and structural steel frame to LEED certification standards for energy and water efficiency, use of recycled materials and low-emitting materials. The architect is Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects, LLP and the general contractor is McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. The acoustical consultant is Yasuhisa Toyota of Nagata Acoustics, who also worked on Disney Hall.
Soka University, Aliso Viejo is a private, non-profit, four-year liberal arts college and graduate program founded upon the Buddhist principles of peace, human rights and the sanctity of life. SUA offers a 9:1 student/faculty ratio and an average class size of 13. All undergraduate students participate in a semester of study abroad during their junior year which is included in the tuition. Admitted students whose annual earned family income is $60,000 or less may be eligible for free tuition (room and board fees still apply.) The university is open to top students of all nationalities and beliefs. About half of SUA’s students come from the US and half come from 30 other countries. For more information: www.soka.edu.
Submmitted By;
Wendy Harder
Director, Community Relations
Soka University
1 University Drive
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656


















