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In an effort to tug at the heartstrings of its West Coast alumni, Syracuse University re-created a version of its campus for a fund-raiser on Sunday night, the West Coast stop of the university's ongoing capital campaign to raise $1 billion.

The Globe Theatre at Universal Studios Hollywood was the site of a smaller version of the university's quad, complete with a scaled model of the school’s chapel that doubled as both a scenic piece and a stage. Working with the university's associate vice president for institutional advancement, Charles Merrihew, Jason Wanderer and his team at Precision Event Group constructed the chapel based on the building’s original 1920 architectural blueprints, which the school supplied.The remainder of the quad scene was printed on 22-foot-tall by 240-foot-wide fabric scrim banners and rigged throughout the venue by Kish Rigging. Turf and simulated-sidewalk carpet were in place to replicate the quad’s grass and sidewalks, and guests entered the fund-raiser through archways of molded stone.

Following a program of speakers—including presentations by chancellor Nancy Cantor and alumni Aaron Sorkin and Vanessa Williams—the entire room was engulfed with falling snow brought in by Snow Business Hollywood, reminiscent of the many snowy months the university experiences every year.

Guests dined on buffets from Wolfgang Puck, including offerings such as tomato basil risotto with shrimp scampi and scaloppine of veal marsala, plus chocolate truffle cakes and cheesecake cones for dessert.