PRINT BY ELIZABETH ANDERSON
PHOTOS BY HALEIGH RABER VIDEO BY ALEX JUAREZ
On October 11th, FHSU students who are enthused about art and the place it holds in the world’s heart, joined together to officially open the new Art & Design building on campus. Staff members and students gather with their new Art & Design shirts to support the new foundation of art Fort Hays University has provided.
This $14.25M building was scheduled for completion in June of 2019. Construction of this facility includes new parking, as well as remodeling the Old Power Plant building into an Art Gallery. There will also be an approximately 2,000 square foot art collection storage addition to the Old Power Plant. Besides providing space for Art Department faculty and staff, much-needed space for graduate student studios is included in the building.
Ceramics, graphic design, printing, design, photography, interior design, painting, printmaking, and drawing areas have been programmed into this modern state-of-the-art building. The building was designed by Gould Evans Associates in Lawrence, Kansas, and was built by Paul-Wertenberger Construction, Inc., Hays, Kansas.
The design of the building holds a modern style along with a cozy environment so that the students can spend as much time as they need to work on their masterpieces. Not only do they provide study areas and comfy chairs, they also provide a place where the students can eat while spending their hours creating.
One of the staff, Jee Ghwang, felt the empowerment of the building.
“Our expansion of studios and brand new facilities provides such an inspiring space for students to focus, growth and research,” Ghwang said. “Especially the structure of the building enables students and faculty to build a strong community as part of this amazing creative space. We feel more connected since everyone can see what other areas working”.
Every bit of what Ghwang says is truest to the true. The art community will use this building to feed off of others creative drive and present the world with pieces people would never expect. These creative drives can be seen in both the students and teachers. Both parties are learning from each other to create a newer and better world of art.
A word from a student, Cheyene Thompson, also explains:
“I liked how all the students gathered at the top of the building to watch the ribbon-cutting,” said Cheyene Thompson, a student who will study in the building. “[It] makes us feel like it’s a workplace for us students.”
So don’t be afraid to check out the new building, it is not only for art majors but for the whole campus to experience and enjoy. Words from both the art students and staff, “Welcome!”.