NEW: Rhode Island College to Break Ground on Art Center Renovation Today
Friday, May 04, 2012
RIC President Nancy Carriuolo and Gov. Lincoln Chafee will participate in a groundbreaking ceremony for the renovation and expansion of Rhode Island College’s Art Center on Friday, May 4, at 3 p.m. on the west portico side of the Art Center building.
The $17 million project is being funded by a state bond referendum approved by Rhode Island voters in November 2010. The net proceeds of that bond issue make it the largest ever approved for RIC.
The refurbished 54,000 square-foot facility will include a wrap-around addition and provide classrooms, art studios, workshop areas, slide library, photography and computers labs, faculty offices, and multipurpose presentation areas.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTRIC President Nancy Carriuolo said, “The arts help build bridges of understanding and are an important pillar of a liberal arts education at Rhode Island College. Today’s groundbreaking ceremony represents our continued commitment to building a world-class art program at Rhode Island College. By placing all our art programs under one roof and providing a state-of the-art learning environment, we are ensuring that our emerging artists will have the very best resources to nurture their skills.”
Currently, there are 15 full-time faculty members who teach art programs and serve approximately 240 undergraduate majors, 30 minors and 25 graduate majors. Approximately 2,000 students per year take classes in the facility.
The new art facility is expected to increase those numbers and become a major draw in recruiting new students. The soon-to-be-renovated building opened in 1958 as a Student Center, housing the library, cafeteria, bookstore and study lounges. In 1971, work began to transition the structure into the current Art Center, which was completed in 1976.
“It is now the Art Center’s turn to begin its transformation into a modern, state-of-the-art facility worthy of RIC’s magnificent art faculty and talented students,” said Carriuolo.
The first phase of the renovation project is expected to be completed by January 2013, with the second and final phase to be finished by January 2014.
Governor Lincoln Chafee said, “The arts are an important component of a quality liberal arts education, as well as a major driver of Rhode Island’s creative economy. This new facility will bring tremendous benefits to RIC students and faculty, and its renovation will support good jobs in our struggling construction industry. This project is a win-win for Rhode Islanders, and I am pleased that the voters chose once again to support higher education in our state.”
During the course of construction, classes will be held in Whipple Hall, in Building 2 on the East Campus and in the existing art building where work is not taking place.
The general contractor is Iron Construction Group of Warwick. The architectural firm is Design Partnership of Cambridge, Inc.