Final stages

A project that has been in planning for years and construction since last fall is entering its final stages.

Much of the exterior work on the $2.4-million renovation and expansion project at Arts Place is finished, with only a handful of final details left. Crews have mostly turned now to interior work.

The project is expected to be substantially complete by the end of June.

“That’s just construction,” said Arts Place executive director Eric Rogers. “There will be lots of little details to finish out that are not construction.”

As for the timeline?

“We’re right on target,” he said.

Some of the major aspects of the project have been finished. Those include the construction of a new visual arts building — interior work such as painting is still in process — at the northwest corner of Walnut and Harrison streets as well as structural fixes and a new brick facade for the existing facility at 131 E. Walnut St. The new visual arts building is about 2,100 square feet and will house a 2-D art room, 3-D art room, storage, a waiting room and space for smaller exhibits.

Also already addressed are drainage issues that were compromising the structural integrity of the building.

“The water was going toward us rather than away,” said Rogers. “That’s been addressed.

“And then of course the phenomenal masonry. It looks just great. And it takes care of a big moisture problem. The building is going to last.”

Also already complete are upgrades to the Hugh N. Ronald Gallery, including new lighting, grinding and refinishing the floor and painting.

New lighting has also been installed in Goodrich Hall, the new ensemble room, rehearsal rooms, conference room and Rogers’ office located on the west side of the building are substantially finished.

Crews are currently working on the expanded reception and lobby area and community gallery, with a new bump-out window on the north side of the building. Other work that still remains includes painting Goodrich Hall, putting finishing touches on the visual arts building, construction of offices and an expanded kitchen, finishing the large piano studio and expanding the stage support area, including the installation of new storage cabinets. The final part of the project will include landscaping and paving the west parking lot.

Exterior work left to be completed on the buildings includes installation of gables and coping.

Arts Place has been working toward the ongoing construction and expansion project — it got underway with a groundbreaking in late September — since 2014. After several years of planning, Arts Place launched a capital campaign in September 2017 and has brought in more than $2.2 million.

The project represents the latest expansion for Arts Place, which began more than 50 years ago as Jay County Arts Council. The organization moved to its current location, the former site of Indiana Michigan Power, in 1983. A $2 million expansion project in 2000 tripled the size of the facility.

Limberlost Construction is leading the current project. The construction work itself is about $1.45 million with about an additional $200,000 in architectural fees, permits and contingencies. (Other funds from the capital campaign had already gone toward building stabilization work and heating, ventilation and cooling that were more immediate concerns.)

When construction is complete, additional work will include finishing donor plaques and possibly adding new theatre lights if funds are available. Goodrich Hall floors will be cleaned. And generally the facility will be prepped for an unveiling to the public.

“We will be doing a lot of cosmetic things that really should be addressed because we want the entire building to look sparkling,” said Rogers. “There’s lots and lots of little details to finish up.”

Plans are being finalized to dedicate the upgraded facility with multiple events in October.

Arts Place staff is planning an open house for the general public to tour the buildings and a celebration for those who donated to the capital campaign and a 2021-22 performance series kick-off concert.

“We want to have a number of events so people get a chance to experience the facility,” said Rogers. “We want everybody in the community to be able to enjoy it.”