Work is slated to begin on a new entrance and plaza alongside the east side of the Bowlus Fine Arts Center, the largest such construction project since the Bowlus was built more than 50 years ago.
Crews have spent the last several days fencing off the construction site and getting materials such as rebar and concrete ordered so the foundation work can begin, perhaps by the end of the week, according to Bowlus Executive Director Susan Raines.
Once it gets started, “the work is going to go quickly,” she said.
Weather permitting, workers want to have a full-sized elevator installed by October, “and they’re supposed to be done with everything by Christmas,” Raines said.
The work will replace the center’s east entrance, adding a vestibule, lobby area and aforementioned elevator, giving much greater accessibility for wheelchair-bound patrons.
Approaching the building will be a new circle drive with handicap parking, ornate walkway and landscaping.
The plans also include a new loading dock, indoor and outdoor storage facility and instrument storage room.
The plans include space for a musical garden, outfitted with various outdoor music instruments that can be played by children young and old.
“It will have a park-ish kind of feel,” Raines said.
Another hard-surface area will be large enough to accommodate outdoor performances.
“We could set up some kind of Bowlus lunch events, where people bring sandwiches, come sit outside and watch a performance,” Raines said. “There are lots of opportunities for us to go beyond our four walls and branch out into some sunshine. We’re excited about it.”
ACCESSIBILITY issues were one of the driving forces behind the decision of the Friends of the Bowlus in 2013 to pursue the upcoming project.
“The Bowlus is 54 years old, and it was in 1990 that the federal government passed the Americans With Disabilities Act,” she said.
The Friends — a committee consisting of fine arts advocates who raise funds for physical upkeep, property acquisition and other improvements to the Bowlus — have since raised $1 million for the upgrade. On top of that, the Friends received a $200,000 grant from the Sunderland Foundation, which owns Ash Grove Cement Co. in Chanute.
The new elevator will make it easier to get to the Bowlus auditorium and offices.
“The only place the elevator can’t reach is the Creitz Recital Hall,” Raines said. The existing chair lift going to the lower level will remain. The other chair lift, accessing the center’s upper areas, will be removed once the elevator is installed.
