Nance Farms Cultural Arts Center

Upon city council approval and site rezoning in April 2024, design of the new full site began in May 2024. This process refined the needs of the city arts programs and establishes how the site may be used for both public and private events. The historic structures are renovated for continuing public events and exhibition space.

At the center of the site, a new Arts Center includes custom rooms for music, art, and dance. For music, soft materials are selected for noise control, and two back rooms, connected by a window, are included for recording and engineering. In the arts room, natural light streams in from a monitor window above, and cabinets include a sink for clean up; just outside is a small space reserved for an electric kiln. The dance room includes a sprung wood floor, a barre opposite a wall of mirrors, and wrap-around curtains to close off the space for small theater performances. A desk stands at the entrance to control check-in and security during children’s programming. Just off the entrance is a full commercial kitchen, to accommodate catering for events.

Stitching the new spaces with the historic, a tiered plaza has been designed to host gatherings. Included is a 1,800 sf covered area with ceiling fans, for both rainy and sunny days. Stepping down from this area, the plaza stitches the historic milking barn and witch’s hat structure into the overall site, with a paved flexible plaza retaining the existing tree canopy.

Further sloping down toward the creek, stepped seating and newly planted trees create a picnic area. Connecting all spaces are a network of accessible concrete paths and gentle sloped walks.

Throughout the site has been designed to accommodate a rich palette of native plants showcasing the historic prairie and riverine ecosystem that once existed on the site.