ASFI Brings “Music by the Lake” to George Williams College of Aurora University

University community will enjoy outdoor performances in new fabric pavilion

OCALA, FLA. (April 1, 2008) – American Spaceframe Fabricators International (ASFI) announced today that the company will soon complete a custom fabric pavilion for George Williams College of Aurora University. Located in Williams Bay, Wis., 55-miles southwest of Milwaukee, the new pavilion will provide a permanent cultural destination that Aurora University students and staff, as well as the surrounding community, can enjoy year-round. The 10,000 sq. ft. pavilion has an anticipated complete date of June 2008.

“This new facility is a major step toward our vision of creating a permanent summer cultural and intellectual destination on Geneva Lake akin to Aspen or Chautauqua in upstate New York,” said Rebecca L. Sherrick, president of Aurora University. “ASFI worked with us to achieve our vision by designing a pavilion that is both aesthetically appealing and technically and acoustically advanced. Guests will be touched by the performances as well as the beauty of the structure.”

The Ferro Pavilion will seat approximately 650 people under the pavilion and approximately 250 people on the terrace. The pavilion will host a variety of George Williams College events and musical performances and officially starts its 2008 musical season by hosting Grammy Award winning artist Maureen McGovern and the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra on June 28.

In addition to providing shelter from the elements, the fabric pavilion boasts a permanent stage with state-of-the-art acoustical and technical components designed to enhance the performance experience for the audience and artists. The university’s goals for the new pavilion included a large seating capacity for students and visitors, improved sight lines for the audience and an expanded seating area around the perimeter of the pavilion.

“We recognized that the George Williams College project had unique requirements because of the seating configuration, as well as the staging and electrical needs,” said Chris Longley, vice president of business development for ASFI. “Our strength is being able to help clients articulate and translate those needs into a usable structure — whether the structure is intended to serve a functional purpose, serve as an extension of the campus or a combination of both.”

To complete The Ferro Pavilion, ASFI designers and engineers carefully considered a variety of fabric and design options while working closely with the university’s advisory boards. A 28 ounce custom color fabric manufactured by the Seaman Corporation was chosen to match the natural beauty of the campus, while staying true to the architectural design by HGA Architects, out of Milwaukee, Wis.

For additional information about ASFI and an update on current projects, please visit www.asfi.net

About ASFI
Based in Ocala, Fla., American Spaceframe Fabricators International, LLC is a design, build and engineering firm with more than 30 years experience in the tensioned fabric structures industry. ASFI’s award-winning structures are located around the globe and provide protection from a myriad of weather conditions from severe hurricane winds to sub zero temperatures. ASFI’s structures include aerospans, sports facilities, canopies and entertainment facilities. For more information visit www.asfi.net

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Editor’s Note: Renderings of The Ferro Pavilion are available for editorial use. Please contact Melissa Neill at mneill@risdall.com for more information.