Center for the Arts to Open with April 17 Ribbon Cutting

By Terry Dickson of The Brunswick News, terryldickson50@gmail.com

Almost two years after a ceremonial groundbreaking, the Center for the Arts is nearing completion on the campus of College of Coastal Georgia.

The college will host a ribbon cutting on April 17 where the public can get a look at the 32,328 square-foot facility that will host concerts, lectures, meetings and other events.

The ribbon cutting will be two years to the day after the groundbreaking.

College President Johnny Evans Jr. and other officials toured the facility last week with Will Reeves, project manager for McKnight Construction. He liked what he saw, especially in the auditorium where workers were installing theater seating that looks down on a white oak performance floor.

Evans was impressed with the look of the seating with wood on the backs and beneath the seats.

“This is something the community needs,’’ Evans said. “It going to have a community impact, not just a college impact.”

As they toured, Norah Jones’ “Don’t Know Why” filled the hall as a sound engineer worked on the audio system.

Reeves said the project is at a point of completion he enjoys.

“That’s the best part about finishing,’’ he said. “Every day looks different. This is my third auditorium. This has been the most fun.”

He showed off the dressing rooms that have tall mirrors the width of the rooms. There is also a room dedicated for the storage of a Steinway concert piano.

Although it will be a home to the arts in Glynn County, the building itself is artistic with oak interior trim, striking lighting, an atrium with a view from the upper floor and a LED light band just below the roof line of the corner tower. It will glow in Mariner blue most of the time but the color can be changed to match events and seasons.

The first big event in the building will be Evans’ investiture ceremony as college president the morning of April 27 followed by a scholarship gala in the evening.

The Coastal Symphony of Georgia will perform a grand opening concert May 12.

The facility’s role as a venue begins just inside the front doors in the spacious entrance hall.

Evans said it can be rented for wedding receptions and other private events.

Story and Photos by Terry Dickson. Republished with the permission of The Brunswick News. Originally published in The Brunswick News.