Patti and Rusty Rueff School of Visual and Performing Arts

- Pao (Yue-Kong) Hall of Visual and Performing Arts, 552 W Wood St, West Lafayette, IN 47907

For Indiana students and families interested in pursuing a rigorous and professionally-focused education in the arts, the

Patti and Rusty Rueff School of Visual and Performing Arts

University

The School represents a significant leap forward for the arts at Purdue, especially compared to the dated facilities of the past. As one reviewer noted, the current building is a "giant leap forward" in supporting visual arts education. It serves as the primary cultural resource for the Purdue campus and the surrounding Lafayette community, hosting an exciting calendar of lectures, performances, workshops, and exhibitions. With approximately 600 undergraduate majors and 60 graduate students, plus thousands of other Purdue students taking elective courses, the Rueff School fosters a vibrant ecosystem of creativity and scholarship.

Students in Indiana and beyond choose this program for its dual focus: deep, specialized artistic training combined with the broad, liberal arts foundation offered by a top-tier

university

Location and Accessibility

The Patti and Rusty Rueff School of Visual and Performing Arts is centrally located on the Purdue University campus in West Lafayette, Indiana. Its main facility is the impressive

Pao (Yue-Kong) Hall of Visual and Performing Arts

The exact address is: Pao (Yue-Kong) Hall of Visual and Performing Arts, 552 W Wood St, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.

The facility is conveniently situated on the south side of campus, easily accessible from major streets and near other significant campus buildings. For visitors and community members in Indiana attending performances or exhibitions, accessibility is a priority.

• The building offers a fully

  Wheelchair accessible entrance

  , ensuring that all students, faculty, and guests can enter and navigate the facility easily.
• Dedicated parking spaces are provided in the

  Wheelchair accessible parking lot

  located in the front lot of Pao Hall.
• Visitor parking is available on the street by Pao Hall and for a fee at the nearby Grant Street parking garage during weekday hours, with free parking available after 5:00 p.m. and on weekends.
• The cohesive design of Pao Hall, which brought previously separated arts programs together into a single, modern structure, significantly enhances the ease of access to studios, theaters, and classrooms for all students.

Services Offered

The Rueff School provides a comprehensive range of academic programs, professional training, and cultural resources for students and the wider Indiana community. These services are broadly categorized into four main divisions: Art and Design, Dance, Music, and Theatre.

• Art and Design Programs: Offerings include undergraduate and graduate degrees in areas such as Industrial Design Professional Program (BFA), Interior Design Professional Program (BFA), Visual Communication Design (BFA), Integrated Studio Arts (BFA), Art History (BA), and Art Education (BA, MA, Ph.D.).
• Theatre and Dance: Full degree programs and minors in Theatre (BA) and highly specialized graduate programs (MFA) with concentrations like Acting, Costume Design, Lighting Design, Scenic Design, and Sound Design. The Dance Division offers courses in modern, ballet, jazz, and ethnic dance, choreography, and performance.
• Music Programs: Degrees and concentrations include Music: General Music Studies (BA), Music: Jazz Studies (BA), Music: Music Technology (BA), Music: Music Theory & Composition (BA), and Sound for the Performing Arts (BA). The school also provides instruction to students across the

  University

  through elective course offerings.
• Facilities and Performance Venues: Access to state-of-the-art resources within Pao Hall, including the Nancy T. Hansen Theatre (300-seat proscenium space), the flexible Carole and Gordon Mallett Theatre (100–155 seats), two dance studios, a professional audio recording studio, the Music Computing Lab, and the

  Patti and Rusty Rueff Galleries

  .
• Career Preparation: Emphasis on real-world readiness through internship opportunities, the Job-Ready Internship Fund, a connection to the Purdue Center for Career Opportunities, and graduate programs that offer specialized academic training and preparation for professional careers.
• Community Engagement: The school serves as a cultural resource for the Lafayette community, opening its galleries, performances, and lectures to the public. It also offers a Community Arts Academy with year-round opportunities for children in grades pre-K through 12.

Features / Highlights

The Rueff School's appeal to Indiana students and their families is anchored in its commitment to excellence, modern resources, and career focus.

• World-Class Facilities: The Pao Hall of Visual and Performing Arts is a $47 million, 176,000 square-foot facility, providing students with modern, dedicated spaces—a significant upgrade that allows for true immersion in their respective art forms.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: All four major divisions—Art and Design, Dance, Music, and Theatre—are housed under one roof, actively encouraging the collaboration of creative ideas and cross-disciplinary projects.
• Professional Accreditations: The school is officially accredited by respected national bodies, including the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA), and the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST), ensuring a high standard of education.
• Internationally-Acclaimed Faculty: Students learn from faculty who are actively engaged as practicing artists, designers, and performers on a national and global scale, bringing current industry knowledge directly into the curriculum.
• Hands-On Production Experience: The program boasts a robust production schedule, with the Theatre Division utilizing the two dedicated venues within Pao Hall as a constant laboratory for student learning and performance.
• Career-Ready Focus: The curriculum is designed to prepare students for the "real world," with a strong emphasis on practical skills, networking platforms, and internship experiences, as highlighted by successful alumni and faculty.
• Cultural Impact: The school significantly contributes to the cultural vitality of West Lafayette and greater Indiana through its public galleries, musical concerts, and theatrical productions.

Contact Information

Prospective students, alumni, and community members in Indiana can connect with the Patti and Rusty Rueff School of Visual and Performing Arts through the following contact details:

Address: Pao (Yue-Kong) Hall of Visual and Performing Arts, 552 W Wood St, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA

Phone: (765) 494-2787

Mobile Phone: +1 765-494-2787

The main office in Pao Hall is the central point of contact for inquiries regarding admissions, school events, and academic program details.

What is Worth Choosing

For an Indiana student dedicated to the arts, choosing the

Patti and Rusty Rueff School of Visual and Performing Arts

University

The modern facilities in Pao Hall—from professional-grade theatres and recording studios to the stunning Rueff Galleries—provide a learning environment that directly mirrors the professional world, an investment that dramatically accelerates student skills and confidence. As one design major shared, their four years spent in the building with knowledgeable and friendly faculty truly prepared them for the "real world." This is the essence of the Rueff School’s promise: a challenging, supportive, and accredited environment where artistic passion is translated into professional potential. For any aspiring artist, designer, or performer in Indiana, the combination of world-class resources, expert faculty, and a proven track record of career success makes this

university

Patti and Rusty Rueff School of Visual and Performing Arts

Pao (Yue-Kong) Hall of Visual and Performing Arts, 552 W Wood St, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA