New Fayetteville theater building aims to be downtown hub
FAYETTEVILLE — The team behind the new TheatreSquared building wants the 50,000-squarefoot, three-level center to catch the eye and immerse visitors the moment they walk inside.
Fayetteville City Council members, administrators and tourism officials toured the facility last week. Most of the foundational structure, with its first bits of drywall but lacking finishes, is in place. Construction should wrap by June under contractor Baldwin and Shell, with the first shows scheduled for August.
The new TheatreSquared will feature something for theater lovers, performers, staff and visitors who just want to hang out at the corner of West Avenue and Spring Street, according to officials involved in the project. TheatreSquared now operates out of the Nadine Baum Studios building across West Avenue.
The new theater center will include:
Two state-of-the-art theaters. A dedicated rehearsal space. Staff and artist offices.
Education and community spaces. On-site workshops for scenery, props and costumes. Eight guest artist apartments. Four outdoor terraces and patios at three levels. An open-all-day cafe bar at the corner of West Avenue and Spring Street.
The council last year approved spending of $3.1 million toward construction of the building. The Advertising and Promotion Commission committed $3 million over 15 years. The Walton Family Foundation has awarded TheatreSquared $12.5 million in grants.
The $34 million campaign includes $31.5 million for the design, construction and equipping of the facility, plus $2.5 million to establish a trust that will serve as an operating reserve for the company. TheatreSquared so far has more than $21 million pledged toward its goal and is in the middle of its fundraising campaign.
The city leases the property to TheatreSquared rent-free.
Martin Miller, TheaterSquared executive director, led the tour with Jonathan Marvel of New York-based Marvel Architects and representatives of the project’s lead consultant, Charcoalblue theater planners.