After 34 years, the Arts United Center is getting a new look.
The new design aims to be “pedestrian-centric” by improving connectivity between the Landing, Riverfront Development, Freimann Square, and other downtown attractions.
Arts United President Susan Mendenhall says the project lines up well with other downtown and regional development efforts.
“This is a project that has huge potential to put Fort Wayne on the map in terms of arts and culture as well as talent attraction and retention,” said Mendenhall.
The project aims to preserve the original design, while also seeking to increase community gathering space and enhance ADA accessibility.
Four architectural teams have been chosen as semifinalists for the design, all featuring collaboration from Fort Wayne-based firms. Mendenhall says the interest from firms both locally and nationally highlights the significance of the project.
“The quality and the scale of proposals we received from architectural firms from both Fort Wayne as well as outside of our community really speaks to the national and international significance of the building and the prominence of this type of project as we enact plans for quality of life and community growth,” she said.
The winning team is expected to be chosen by the end of June. Once a winner is chosen, the schedule moving forward is a tight one.
“We’d like to initiate a six-to-eight month planning process this summer, with the goal of having a conceptual design and a cost estimate prepared by January, February or March of next year,” she said.
The Arts United Center was designed by renowned architect Louis Kahn and completed in 1972.
