In October, HGA teams celebrated milestones with clients from coast-to-coast. These education and community spaces promote lifelong learning and connection. A new dance wing in Michigan will create new opportunities for students, a restored historic courthouse in Mississippi will serve its community for generations to come, and a neighborhood center in Connecticut will provide a welcoming space for residents of all ages. Read on to learn about these inspiring projects and more.
Completed Projects
The Jim and Eileen Heeringa Dance Wing is now open at Hope College in Holland, Michigan. A grand opening ceremony celebrated the HGA-designed addition to the DeWitt Cultural Center. The new dance wing includes a state-of-the-art dance studio along with renovated support spaces to meet national accreditation standards for dance instruction. Shared amenities and support space encourage collaboration and partnership between the performing arts disciplines. HGA also designed the Jack H. Miller Center for Musical Arts at Hope College, which opened in 2015. Learn more about the dynamic new facility, expanding opportunities for dance students, here.
The Warroad RiverPlace Arts, Culture and Events Center is now open in Warroad, Minnesota, offering the community a place of gathering, dedicated to the pursuit of arts and cultural education. HGA attended the grand welcoming ceremony which invited the community in to tour the facility and take part in opening festivities, including a free concert. Located along the banks of the Warroad River, the cultural center anchors the edge of the downtown corridor while creating a connection to the riverfront. Designed for the community, the center includes a 300-seat flexible performance hall, a commercial kitchen, an art studio, a fireside area, and a patio for outdoor events. HGA partnered with RiverPlace leadership and the Mortenson construction team to create a welcoming facility that would increase access to the arts, create opportunities for performance, and foster community connections.
The Thomas G. Abernethy Federal Building in Aberdeen, Mississippi has reopened after extensive renovations took place to improve energy efficiency, update technology, and address mold and asbestos issues. HGA joined the grand reopening ceremony, celebrating the completion of renovations to the historic building. Originally constructed in 1972, the building houses the U.S. District Courts, U.S. Postal Service, and U.S. Marshals Service. The renovation became necessary after a systems failure and water infiltration from the building envelope caused mold growth. HGA’s multidisciplinary team partnered with the client on upgrades to the mechanical systems and building envelope, to prevent future issues, as well as improvements to fire/life safety infrastructure, electrical systems, and upgrades to the roof, windows, and select finishes. Learn more about the courthouse, set to serve the community for another 50 years, here.
HGA attended the grand opening celebration for the Schaefer Center for Health Sciences at Colby-Sawyer College in New London, New Hampshire. The cutting-edge facility brings together key academic programs in a modern, collaborative environment, featuring a state-of-the-art simulation center, anatomy and physiology labs, conference rooms, workspaces, and a café — for use by the entire campus. The health and wellness of occupants are prioritized using durable, healthy, and sustainable materials, while exterior views and natural daylight are maximized throughout the building. HGA partnered closely with the College to create a facility that not only supports the growth of its faculty and students but also positions Colby-Sawyer as a leader in Nursing and Health Sciences education. Learn more about how Schaefer Center is preparing the next generation of healthcare providers, here.
Project Milestone
HGA gathered with local, state, and federal dignitaries and residents to honor the past of the City of New Haven’s “Black Main Street,” and to celebrate its future with a groundbreaking ceremony. ConnCat Place in the Dixwell neighborhood of New Haven, Connecticut will kick–off the first phase of construction on the multiphase development. The first phase includes construction of a new headquarters for Connecticut Center for Arts and Technology (ConnCat) and will later be joined by a mixed income housing development, a worker training center, a family health center, a daycare, a grocery store and food hall, greenspace, and retail space. Guided by ConnCat’s mission to “Inspire, motivate, and prepare youth and adults for educational and career advancement, through after-school arts, and job training programming,” ConnCAT Place will become a neighborhood center offering services to residents, young and old.