The project is an expansive (80,000+ sf) re-purposing of an historic awning factory just west of downtown that will feature a range of arts organizations headlined by a new art gallery and educational facility sited in the newer large warehouse space. Other tenants will include a practice and performance space for a modern dance company, a black box theater, art education facilities and video production spaces.

Smith & Sauer is the design architect for the project and will be working closely in tandem with City Architecture of Cleveland.  

The main façade design along 25th St. selectively removes portions of the existing monolithic brick wall, adding daylight and transparency and creating display niches both internally and externally along the length of the façade. The niches help to create new opportunities for public engagement and awareness within the neighborhood, while decorative brick patterns framing the niches underscore the altered nature of the façade, subtly adding craft and intricacy within the existing material palette.