Topeka ? Washburn University in Topeka says it will use a $1 million gift to start planning for a new recital hall.

University president Jerry Farley says the school will hire an architect for a hall that will be designed to provide a more intimate setting than White Concert Hall. The new hall would seat 250 to 350 people, compared with White Concert Hall’s capacity of 1,200. He says the new hall will have a full-size stage and excellent acoustics.

Farley said he couldn’t disclose the benefactor’s name at this time.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the smaller hall would also resolve scheduling conflicts when more than one stage is needed and provide a space for the Topeka Symphony Orchestra’s rehearsals.