Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, May 1, 1990 TAG: 9005010044
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JEFF DeBELL STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The $3.2-million project has resulted in a new wing on Church Avenue plus extensive renovations in the existing building on Roanoke's City Market.
The three-floor, 30,000-square-foot new wing is called Center on Church and has its own entrance at 20 E. Church Ave. It contains offices of The Arts Council of Roanoke Valley; Mill Mountain Theatre's intimate Theatre B; plus classrooms, offices, storage space, work rooms and related facilities for the Roanoke Museum of Fine Arts, the Science Museum of Western Virginia and the Roanoke Valley History Museum.
The new wing's inhabitants have been moving in as space has become available since the first of the year.
The two buildings are joined by an elevated bridge over Kirk Alley. It contains a new contemporary gallery for the art museum plus meeting, entertainment and dining facilities for the use of Center in the Square and its five resident organizations.
The bridge is called the Cartledge Connection. It is named for businessman George Cartledge, a charter member of the board of Center in the Square. He is credited with the idea of buying the former Phelps & Armistead Furniture store and turning it into the new wing.
One effect of the expansion and related remodeling at Center in the Square has been to double the exhibit space of the art, science and history museums.
Both Center in the Square and Center on Church are accessible to the handicapped.
Children who attend the weekend's activities should be accompanied by an adult.
by CNB