The University of Rhode Island Fine Arts Center has been undergoing renovations for the past two years, after a vote was passed in 2021 in favor of improving and modernizing the space for use.
The building first opened in 1968 and now almost everyone who drives by can see that the building has been being renovated for the past few years. Students who are in the music, theater or art fields at URI are particularly affected by this change.
Some art and music classes are being relocated to Pastore Hall, an old chemistry lab building and Fogarty Hall, a health science building. However, those pursuing theatre and some music classes remain in the Fine Arts Center. Piper Colyar, a first-year majoring in theatre with concentrations in acting and design, is one of these students who is in the center every day for class.
“Almost all of my classes are [in the Fine Arts Center],” Colyar said. “It’s kind of weird going into other buildings and seeing how nice their classrooms are when we’re put in much older-style learning areas.”
Students in the fine arts programs continue to work around these renovations, especially those who have classes in the building at this time.
“It’s gonna be better sometime– but then it’s like, ‘when is that?’” Colyar said.
Luckily, an answer to this question already is on its way.
Mark Conley, the music department chair, sent out a newsletter via email on Friday, containing important updates regarding the renovations. This included important dates to remember and a general order of how things are going to happen. The department expects that the construction will start soon and the Fine Arts Center will only have a wing or two open for a year or so.
“We should start to notice things accelerate quickly in the coming weeks,” Conley said. “As of today, they are only waiting to receive some final work permits.”
In late February or early March the construction team will begin digging the hole for the new building, Conley said. While plans for the new building are going to be underway in just a matter of weeks, May 13 is the day when the older building will be facing changes of its own; several wings of the building will be closed with just the E Wing remaining open. The plan is for the Concert Hall, C100 and the A Wing to be available for the beginning of the fall semester.
“We begin to get a little more space in our actual home, the Fine Arts Center,” Conley said.
Students and professors alike are going to have to make some adjustments, but many are excited for the change because it means that their space will be better suited for their needs.
“Everyone’s awaiting the new building,” Colyar said.
The plans for renovation of the Fine Arts Center are scheduled to be completed by the spring of 2025.