FORT WAYNE, IN – Taylor University celebrated the topping off of the new Horne Academic Center, with the final beam being lifted into place. The project has been a long time coming, as Design Collaborative has been working with Taylor’s Film and Media department for over ten years to plan for this facility. MKS is the general contractor on the project.

The 45,000-square-foot facility is expected to be ready for occupancy in August 2024. Private funding totaling $25 million was raised for the project, including lead gifts from Taylor graduate Dee Horne, Chuck and Lisa Surack, Ken and Virginia Cornwall, and an anonymous gift.

The Horne Academic Center will house Taylor’s growing Film and Media program, as well as provide space for educational offerings in entrepreneurship. The new facility will feature a dome entry hall, paying homage to the domed Student Union that has occupied the site since the 1950’s. It will include Film and Media viewing auditoriums, sound stages, editing suites, and general classrooms to support the nationally-recognized program.

Taylor University is thrilled to be taking this important step in advancing its Film and Media department, providing resources for students to create meaningful works of art. The Horne Academic Center will be a beacon of innovation and opportunity for current and future generations of Taylor’s students.

This extraordinary project was made possible through the generosity of many and serves as testament to the power of collaboration, determination, and faith. Taylor University is excited to open this new facility and continue to shape its future leaders in Faith, Learning, and Service.