LAWRENCE — The Fort Ben Cultural Campus in the City of Lawrence has begun to take shape, with Phase Three construction underway at the new Visual Arts Center. Construction began July 27 at the former Communications Building from the decommissioned Fort Benjamin Harrison, with the lifting of the building to be slowly moved to the new location on the campus. The actual move of the building will happen on Friday July 31 or Monday Aug. 3.
A World War II era building, the Communications Building was home to the Indiana Sector Command and the USAR (U.S. Army Reserve) Advisory Group while the Fort was an active military base. It is currently located behind redeveloped barracks that are now luxury condos on Lawton Loop in the Historic District. The Fort Harrison Reuse Authority owned the building and has been unable to sell it; instead they have donated it to the Cultural Campus.
The funding for the Fort Ben Cultural Campus, located at 8920 Otis Ave., is provided through a competitive grant process from the Lilly Endowment Inc. The campus is slated for completion in 2023 and includes the Theater at the Fort.
For more information, visit www.artsforlawrence.com/FBCC
