Library Lecture Hall

“I believe the Hall will eventually be a community landmark that residents will come to know as a place of learning and enjoyment. The Civic Center campus draws a number of higher-level, sophisticated presentations and events but is lacking a suitable facility to properly host them. The Hall would complete this need at a level that is expected in and of Newport Beach.” Thomas Johnson, Publisher Stu News Newport Stu News Laguna

“Places like the proposed Lecture Hall are what takes a community from good to great. It promotes community and serves as a place for interactivity, learning and the building of social capital.” Steve Rosansky, President & CEO The Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce

“With the rapid change in technology, on demand independent news sources, and access to the world through our phones, a CENTER like this is necessary for a world class city such as Newport Beach.” Meghan E. McNulty, President Law Offices of Meghan E. McNulty Board of Advisors Newport Beach Foundation

“As the official nonprofit arts agency for the County of Orange, we routinely take the pulse of artists and arts organizations throughout our community. Beyond funding, the greatest need expressed to us is for performance and exhibition space. Understandably, spaces at schools and colleges are primarily for curricular use and rarely available. A space like Witte Hall is greatly anticipated by area performing arts groups—from grass roots community ensembles to worldclass professional companies. These will supplement the Newport Beach Public Library’s own presentations with a depth and variety of offerings that will enrich community members of all ages and backgrounds for many years to come. In a short period of time, Witte Hall will become a much-beloved cultural asset that people will wonder how they could ever have lived without.” Richard Stein, President & CEO Arts Orange County

“The proposed Lecture Hall will be one of those community amenities that once it is in operation, many will wonder how we were able to do without it for so long! It will stimulate a robust variety of programs and offerings that will allow many more residents to enjoy and benefit from. I am excited about the possibilities it will add to Newport Beach.” Homer Bludau Former Newport Beach City Manager Civic Leader

“Newport Beach is truly blessed with an abundance of assets from our aspirational lifestyle to our crown jewel: Newport Harbor. One thing we need more of, however, is quality meeting space for the community as well as for special events and meeting groups. For example, our Film Festival, which has grown significantly over the last several years, needs to use Costa Mesa venues to accommodate screenings. Although our hotels have some very nice space, it doesn’t fulfill the demand from community events to client meetings and events, The new Witte Hall will be a wonderful asset that will not only support Newport Beach residents and community groups but also corporate and association clients who need an attractive auditorium venue when visiting and doing business in the city.” Gary Sherwin, President & CEO Newport Beach & Company

Beyond Books - The Campaign for Witte Hall

To Engage Learners • To Inspire Thinkers • To Nurture Civic Connections

Witte Hall Beam Signing Ceremony

https://youtu.be/l39aPDHyIHA

THE VISION

A Library Lecture Hall that will transform the quality, and character of programs and events of the Newport Beach Public Library and Library Foundation as well as the extended Newport Beach community.

THE GOAL

To build a Hall that will enrich people’s lives and be a source of pride for our community by providing informative and entertaining programming of literary, cultural, artistic, and educational value.

THE NEED

A large, modern venue
Ample space with advanced audio and visual technology
Expanded programming capabilities for the Library and the greater community
A Hall destined to serve our community for decades to come

MEETING THE NEED

A modern auditorium with tiered, cushioned, permanent seating for 299 patrons
Technically advanced stage lighting and audio-visual equipment
Excellent acoustics to accommodate a range of presentations from lectures to musical performances, from documentary films to children’s programs

The Hall will be on the Library grounds adjacent to Avocado Avenue and the current Bamboo Courtyard, which will be expanded to provide outdoor event space. Designed by award-winning architect Robert R. Coffee Architect + Associates, it will be an inspiring building and a cornerstone to the impressive Newport Beach Civic Center. It will be an outstanding venue to host Library, Foundation, and community organization presentations, of national acclaim and local interest.

FUNDING THE VISION

The Hall funding will be public/private partnership, much like the Central Library itself. The City of Newport Beach will provide approximately 50% of the cost of the design, site preparation, and construction. The donor community, through the efforts of the Library Foundation of Newport Beach, will contribute the remaining 50%.

YOUR SUPPORT

It is only through the support of the community that the Vision will be realized. Your philanthropic pledge will assure that the Goal of enriching the literary, cultural, artistic, and educational lives of the entire community will be achieved. Major Donors to the Hall will receive special recognition on a donor wall in the Lobby of the Library Hall and an invitation to the Hall’s opening celebration and events.

NAMING RECOGNITION

Through the cooperation and support of the City of Newport Beach, donors to the Hall will have the legacy opportunity to have the Hall itself and a few specific areas of the Hall and adjacent courtyard named for them, with appropriate signage.¹

Naming Opportunities in the Hall include:

The Library Hall building including monument signage along Avocado Ave.– Witte Hall
The Lobby – Louise and Roy Woolsey Memorial Lobby
The Auditorium
The Green Room
The Restructured Bamboo Courtyard– Stahr Courtyard
The Stage Manager—Audio-Visual Booth

¹The Library Foundation of Newport Beach must comply with requirements regarding naming rights as established by the Newport Beach City Council.

Current Donors

Support Witte Hall

Beyond Books Donor Agreement

Beyond Books Donor Benefits

“The new Lecture Hall will be the culmination of years of planning for, and dreaming of, a fabulous state-of-the-art hall — a hall that will be a gift for everyone in our community — children and adults, rich and poor. All of us who help fund it will share the message that we value knowledge, art, literature, education and especially our own community. Please join me in helping turn this dream into reality.”

Karen Heath Clark
Immediate Past Chair
Library Foundation of Newport Beach

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Jill Johnson-Tucker
jilljtucker@gmail.com

Marilyn Krahe
Chair, Board of Directors
krahe_home@fkaild.com

Jerold D Kappel, CFRE
Foundation CEO
jkappel@libraryfoundationnb.org

“The last jewel in the crown that is the Library campus will be the striking Library Lecture Hall, a 21st Century, forward-looking architectural triumph. For decades to come, it will afford the best in content-rich offerings which embody the vision of the campus as the cultural, educational, and informational heart of Newport Beach. Please join me in supporting that vision and the Hall.”

Paul K. Watkins,
Former Chair, Newport Beach Board of Library Trustees

For up to date construction information please go to
https://www.newportbeachca.gov/trending/projects/library-lecture-hall

City map of construction
Lecture Hall Construction Area Map.pdf (newportbeachca.gov)