Center in the Square

Item

Title

Description

1997 Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence - Silver Medal

Center in the Square repurposed a 1914 warehouse in Roanoke, Virginia’s historic farmers market to house and support the local arts community. The restored warehouse is home to the West Virginia Foundation for the Arts and Sciences and houses the Arts Museum of Western Virginia, the Arts Council of the Blue Ridge, Mill Mountain Theatre, Roanoke Valley History Museum, and the Science Museum of Western Virginia. By bringing together these cultural entities in a rent-free space and encouraging community input, Center in the Square has created a new cultural and educational destination in Roanoke and spurred revitalization downtown.

A patron of the arts, Center in the Square provides housing for arts and science organizations free of charge and offers marketing and other support services to tenants. By centralizing arts and science programs, the project gives residents, tourists, and surrounding schools easy access to invaluable cultural and educational resources.

Coverage

Roanoke, VA

Date

1983

Subject

public-private sector cooperation

museums

adaptive reuse

educational programs

cultural centers

art education

science education

youth programs

Contributor

City of Roanoke

Contributor: en Public Agency

Western Virginia Foundation for the Arts and Sciences

Contributor: en Developer

Hayes, Seay, Mattern & Mattern

Contributor: en Architect

J. M. Turner & Company

Contributor: en Professional Consultant

Downtown Roanoke, Inc.

Contributor: en Community Group

Design '79

Contributor: en Community Group

Roanoke Area Market Association

Contributor: en Community Group

Elfun Society

Contributor: en Community Group

The Athenian Society for the Arts and Sciences

Contributor: en Community Group

The Regional Partnership

Contributor: en Community Group

Central Roanoke Development Foundation

Contributor: en Community Group

City of Roanoke Planning Commission

Contributor: en Public Agency

Roanoke Chamber of Commerce

Contributor: en Community Group

Rights

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