Taylor University’s film department has traded the familiar walls of Rupp Communication Arts Center for the state-of-the-art Horne Academic Center, ushering in a new chapter for faculty and students alike.
Taylor University's website describes the Horne Academic Center as a 45,000-square-foot structure that will contain the Film and Media Arts program as well as the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The facility has a 2,500-square-foot television studio, a 3,500-square-foot film sound stage, and a big room for film equipment that students can use.
The change has not been without challenges though, as faculty and students alike adjust to their new settings.
“I miss being able to see students all the time,” Steve Bailey, Assistant Professor of Film & Media Arts said. “In Rupp, they would be walking past my office or I’d see them in the edit suites on my way to the car. Here, everything is more separated, so I have to make an effort to check in and see what students are working on.”
Rupp, which housed the department for decades, was where Bailey began his teaching career. “Rupp 222 was the first classroom I ever taught in,” he said. “There are so many memories there—my first office, seeing students gather in the lobby, and even the space students called ‘The Slice.’”
“The Slice,” a popular hangout spot named for its resemblance to a slice of pizza, was a central hub for students to collaborate and relax. Jack Fouser, a senior in the film program, remembers it fondly.
“The Slice was a natural place for everyone to meet up,” Fouser said. “It brought students and staff together. But even though we miss that, everything in Horne is just so much better—new facilities, edit suites, equipment. The culture and community we had in Rupp haven’t changed at all.”
Horne Academic boasts cutting-edge technology and a modern layout, enhancing the learning and creative process for students through features like sound stages, editing suites, viewing auditoriums and classrooms.. Despite the adjustments, the department has maintained its tight-knit community and shared passion for filmmaking.
“While Rupp had its charm, Horne is a huge step forward for us,” Fouser said. “We’ve brought the same strong bond and love for our work with us.”
For Bailey and the students, Horne represents not just a new facility, but a space where the legacy of the film department continues to grow.
