Eastern General Contractors, Kuhn*Riddle Architects, chancellor Robert Holub, associate band director Tom Hannum, and new band director Timothy Anderson held a ribbon-cutting for the new 15,000 s/f the George Parks UMass Minuteman Marching Band Building. The new building, named after the late band director George Parks, is connected to an historic livestock arena that currently houses the university's percussion program. The new Parks building includes a 5,500 s/f rehearsal hall for the full 400 member marching band, locker rooms, a music library, new administrative offices, student staff and support spaces, additional rehearsal rooms and instrument storage.