HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — An old building in downtown Huntington has a new purpose. Marshall University is opening the doors Thursday and Friday to its Visual Arts Center.
The building used to house the old Stone & Thomas Department store but it has been completely reworked.
“Salvage is probably a better, operative word. This building was estimated to be within three to five years of collapse. It has been shored up and is ready for the next century,” according to Sandra Reed the director of the Marshall School of Art and Design.
The two-day grand opening celebration kicks off with a ribbon cutting followed by reception. On Friday, the building will be open to the public for a full tour.
“The entire community can explore every nook and cranny of the building to see all our new equipment, sinks, computer labs and dye lab and textile area,” according to the director. “(They) can really see what is in here, see the vision of our architects and our faculty members come together and come to life.
The first floor of the building houses the Visual Arts Gallery and in the near future a business will occupy the store front. The upper floors are the classrooms.
“Fibers, art history, print making, photography, art education, drawing, painting, those areas of study are here. So the building is primarily an academic building of Marshall University,” said Reed.
The school’s art warehouse on 20th Street will continue to house the sculpture and ceramics programs.
Reed said the tour is worth taking because you’ll see some amazing artwork.
“Our gallery director Megan Schultz created a building-wide exhibition of more than 70 artists so that there is art everywhere on our academic floors. The whole building is a gallery!”
The community tours begin at 5 p.m. on Friday.
Classes in the building got underway last month.