Evanston Art Center will hold a ceremonial ground breaking on its newly acquired campus on February 26th at 1:00 pm. The 501(c )(3) organization is relocating from its current facilities at 2603 Sheridan Road, their home since 1966, into the 20,000 sq. ft. building at 1717 Central Street, Evanston, IL. The former office building will serve as its new headquarters after a complete renovation is complete in early May.
Podolsky|Circle CORFAC International principals Randy D. Podolsky and Adam J. Tarantur, CCIM, headed the advisory team for the strategic relocation project. Podolsky|Circle has since been named as Owners Representative for the redevelopment process, and have also been appointed the Construction Manager in conjunction with Lebar Construction Management. The Dobbins Group is the design-build contractor. Financing is being provided by First Bank & Trust.
1717 Central Street will be transformed by the Evanston Art Center Team into the place where creativity meets community. The new facility will be innovative in both its design and multi-disciplinary offerings, which will include programming and educational activities in the areas of culinary arts, design, digital fabrication, music and a broad array of visual arts in addition to expanded gallery spaces. Special amenities such as a coffee shop called the “Art Bar,” will also be part of the exciting new space.
Evanston Art Center offers extensive and innovative instruction in broad areas of artistic endeavor to individuals from over 80 zip codes through studio art classes for all ages, exhibitions, interactive arts activities, public lectures and free youth outreach activities, all of which are designed to engage and enrich the individual and the community. Founded in 1929 by civic and cultural leader Alice C. Riley, Evanston Art Center has remained a vital part of the Evanston community for over eight decades.
