Springfield Regional Arts Council

"Creamery Arts Center renovations on display"

Thursday, October 19, 2006

By Sony Hocklander
News-Leader
Ian Russo (left) and Tom Russo get a look at Vincent Van GOAT, a sculpture that contains an educational arts media program and will be at the Creamery Arts Center Phase I Open House on Saturday.
photo by Rebecca Miller

The first of four renovation phases at the Creamery Arts Center is nearly complete and the Springfield Regional Arts Council wants to show it off. Saturday, bring the kids for art activities and a tour of the building across from Hammons Field.

So far, $1.2 million has been spent on lighting, electric and plumbing (including five new bathrooms with multiple stalls), a new roof, some flooring, the outdoor classroom, handicap ramps, fire doors, basement waterproofing, new utility connections, earth work, some mold remediation, some brick tuck-pointing and some second-floor stabilization.

Up next: $350,000 of heating and air-conditioning work.

Though much of Phase I work is hidden, it all brings the building up to code, says Kay Logsdon of SRAC, which will allow the organization to apply for a full occupancy permit.

Soon, costume storage and set-building spaces — made possible through Community Foundation of the Ozarks grants — also will be complete.

But there's still much to do, says Randy Russell of CFO. It will all take funding through donations and grants. That includes things like additional brick restoration.

"That's a much harder sell," says Russell. "Tuck-pointing is absolutely critical, yet not as exciting as a part of the building that would directly impact a program. But that program can't exist in the most purposeful way without that tuck-pointing."

One Phase II project already complete is the Springfield Ballet studio space. The ballet and Springfield Regional Opera moved into the building this past year. Other groups have inquired about moving in, too, including the Springfield Symphony.

Having many arts groups together is one goal for the building, but that likely won't happen until the Phase IV building addition. Prior to that, Phase III will include new lobbies and exterior work.

In addition to brick work, says Logsdon, Phase II includes more mold remediation, walls for classrooms and an art library, window replacement, some floor-leveling, exterior drainage, driveway construction and other things. It will total about $1 million.

Altogether, says Logsdon, the long-term Creamery renovation will cost between $6 and $8 million.

Says Logsdon: "It's one step at a time."