Thursday, October 09, 2014KENT, Ohio -- Kent State University will celebrate the launch of the new Center for Visual Arts at 4 p.m. today in Cartwright Hall, which overlooks the construction site of the center.
The new center will bring all visual arts programs and disciplines under one roof for the first time since 1960.
Upon completion in the spring of 2016, the $33.5 million complex will have more than 115,000 square feet of space, which include 77,000 square feet of renovation and nearly 38,000 square feet of new construction.
It will be LEED Silver-certified for energy efficiency and sustainability and provide high-tech workspaces as well as state-of-the-art equipment for students and faculty.
The central lobby will provide access to the school’s main gallery and two student galleries. Informal spaces for students to relax and study will be featured in the center, along with hallway seating and charging stations. Studios for after-school and weekend art classes for children in the community are a part of the design.
The center, to be the new home of the School of Art at Kent State, will include the renovation of two existing buildings, Van Deusen Hall and the Art Annex/former Heating Plant. Both buildings will be connected. The new center will place the school’s galleries, studios and classrooms in one central location. Transparent walls in the studios will highlight 24/7 activity at the center.
Pictured: Artist's renderating of the $33.5 million project.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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