$4.3M Kettering arts center renovation starting next week is first major work on facility in 30 years
Sep. 3—Renovation of Kettering's Rosewood Arts Center, a $4.3 million project delayed a year due to the coronavirus, is expected to start next week.
Work on the 56-year-old former elementary school is a multi-year, phased project of a facility that serves more than 80,000 people annually in the Dayton-area through a variety of visual and performing arts, according to the city.
No significant structural or interior changes have occurred at the Olson Drive site since 1985, a year after it closed when Kettering City Schools consolidated buildings, officials have said.
Rosewood has provided arts programming — including more than 400 educational programs and classes each year — in addition artist studio spaces, exhibitions, performances and special events, according to the city.
"Its growth and accomplishments have occurred in spite of its outdated facility," Kettering Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Director Mary Beth O'Dell said in a statement.
The three-part renovation will continue through 2023, but the building will remain open and continue to offer art education classes and gallery programming, the city said last week.
Patrons "can expect to see construction going on. There may be some spaces that they're used to visiting that may be closed," Kettering Assistant City Manager Steve Bergstresser told the Dayton Daily News.
"I think the staff's goal over there is to make it as seamless as possible," he added. "We're going to balance those things as best we can. But patrons who typically use Rosewood can expect construction to be going on the next 18-24 months."
The renovation contracted to Brumbaugh Construction, Inc. includes mechanical, electrical and plumbing upgrades, as well as the creation of more efficient and customized learning environments for various artistic disciplines, the city said.
The first phase is expected to cost about to $2.393 million, about $700,000 more than originally projected.
The higher cost is related to including work in Phase I that had been planned in future phases, city records show.
The work is being funded by Kettering, the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission and the Kettering Parks Foundation, according to the city. It includes a $450,000 state grant, records show.
Kettering City Schools deeded 7.1 acres at the Rosewood address to the city in March in 2020, according Montgomery County Auditor's Office records.
The transaction was part of a land swap that involved former Fire Station 32 on West Dorothy Lane.
