The new Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts debuted less than two weeks ago and is already getting rave reviews from students.

“I think it’s gorgeous. It has the right environment for the fine and performing arts – positive and accepting,” said Leah Eichler, a first-year Brock University dramatic arts student from Brampton. “It’s just a really great building and I feel really happy whenever I’m in here.”

Leah Eichler is a first-year drama student who is giving the facilities at the new MIWSFPA great reviews.

Much of the $45.5-million, 95,000-square-foot building was adapted from the late 19^th-century textile mill known as the Canada Haircloth building.

Inside there are new state-of-the-art spaces for Brock’s art programs, including art studios, computer and learning commons, music practice rooms, multimedia and music cognition labs, a student gallery and a theatre production complex with a 235-seat theatre.

Raizel Sugarman, a first-year dramatic arts student who recently finished three years in Brock’s psychology program, said the blend of old and new brings a lot of character to the downtown campus.

Raizel Sugarman loves the mix of old and new at the MIWSFPA.

“I like how it is refurbished,” she said. “It’s a good collaboration.”

First-year drama student Colin Williams said the space promotes creativity.

“This building really elevates an actor’s potential,” he said, adding there’s a productive atmosphere in the building.

Williams said he chose Brock because of its a co-op program and the “new space is an incredible bonus.”

Returning student Iain Beaumont couldn’t be happier about the new downtown space.

“The new building is a tremendous resource for the arts community here at Brock,” he said. “There seems to be a little bit of everything for everyone under the arts umbrella: allowing us to be able to truly interact, share and collaborate with other departments for the first time.”

Until now, he said each arts/humanities department felt detached due to a lack of proximity.

“The new building with larger studio spaces, a learning commons and an overall grandeur has, in a sense, reinvigorated the Brock arts community into being passionate about what we are doing here — the way in which we work towards our futures has changed into having this overall sense of pride about the new space.”

Beth Natale, Director of Recruitment and Retention, said the new campus is spectacular because of the space but also because of the connections it’s creating.

“It’s a game changer for us,” she said. “It is absolutely transforming the student experience and it’s really embedding them in the downtown arts community.”

The official opening of 15 Artists’ Common is scheduled for Friday from 3-5 p.m., followed by an evening of entertainment produced and performed by Brock alumni. Tours are open to the public on Friday from 4-5 p.m. and Saturday from 1-3 p.m.