Harper College hosts ribbon-cutting ceremony for new Film Lab
Harper College hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the new Film Lab, a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to the study of motion pictures. Attendees were welcomed to test out the 51-seat facility, which features 4K laser projection, Dolby 7.1 surround sound and accessibility accommodations.
Event speakers included Bill Kelley, chair of the Harper College Board of Trustees, who highlighted that the Film Lab is the first new facility completed during the presidency of Dr. Avis Proctor – but, with many projects on the horizon, will not be the last. Dr. Proctor compared the lab to the quality film fans experience in a commercial movie theater and underlined that the building project came in before deadline and under budget. Dr. Ruth Williams, Harper provost, discussed how movies are an international art form that can bring different cultures together. Associate Professor Brian Shelton, who championed the Film Lab project, highlighted the economic benefits of the new facility given that the Chicago area is the third-largest hub for media production jobs in the U.S.
Harper leaders also acknowledged the hard work and support of Dr. Jaime Riewerts, dean of liberal arts; Nancy Media, executive director of facilities management; Stephen Petersen, campus architect; Nuri Akdeniz, senior project manager; and Jennifer Kulbida, project manager.
The event also commemorated the contributions of architects from Holabird & Root, contractor Stuckey Construction, commissioning agent AMSCO Engineering, sound consultants Threshold Acoustics and theater seating manufacturer Sedia Systems.
The Harper Film Lab is in Building E, Room E109 on the college’s Palatine campus, 1200 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine. The new facility is hosting the Harper Film Series 2024-25, showcasing modern and classic movies throughout the academic year, as well as the Fall 2024 Spanish Film Festival.
For information on all Film Lab screenings, visit events.harpercollege.edu.