Arts barn at sweet Briar College (Va.).LOCATED CLOSE TO THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST ARTIST COLONY, SWEET Briar College Sweet Briar College is located on the former plantation of Elijah Fletcher and his family. Fletcher was a teacher, businessman, and mayor of Lynchburg. His wife, Maria Crawford, is credited with naming the land Sweet Briar. takes the arts seriously. Equipment from the 3,250-acre campus's working dairy was auctioned off in 1994. Could the college still utilize the buildings? "Our options were to watch [them] decline and be an eyesore eye·sore n. Something, such as a distressed building, that is unpleasant or offensive to view. eyesore Noun something very ugly Noun 1. , or tear them down, which would have destroyed part of the college's heritage," says Paul Davies For other persons named Paul Davies, see Paul Davies (disambiguation). Paul Charles William Davies (born April 22, 1946) is a British-born, physicist, writer and broadcaster, who holds the position of College Professor at Arizona State University. , vice president of finance and administration. * FUNCTION: Studio space and faculty offices * PROBLEMS: Sweet Briar Sweet briar can refer to:
Informal repayment or loan forgiveness arrangement between a borrower and creditors. workout 1. The process of a debtor's meeting a loan commitment by satisfying altered repayment terms. area; and the Environmental Studies program needed space. Converting the old Sweet Briar Dairy to a Studio Arts Farm complex would solve all these problems. * SOLUTIONS: Back in 2000, the ceramics and sculpture studio were moved from an old train depot on campus to the old milking barn, and Environmental Studies took its old space. Plans for renovation of the old dairy barn soon got underway, and after eight months of construction, its renovation was complete this past summer. It now houses several studio arts disciplines; these departments' previous spaces were converted into a new dance studio and theatre rehearsal area, and the former dance studio was renovated to add fitness facilities. A photography studio and darkroom darkroom, n a completely lightproof room or cubicle that is used in the processing of photographic, medical, and dental films. See also safe light. are also located in the barn. Oak and chestnut floors were milled from the barn's original joists, and high ceilings and natural light provide a spacious feel. "Students and faculty appreciate being together in an environment where ideas and creativity can flow between the various disciplines of studio art," Davies says. But the complex is not done yet. A longer-term goal calls for adding a gallery and classroom space to one of the remaining dairy farm buildings within the next five to 10 years. * COST: $950,000 * PROJECT TEAM: Architect David B. Giles, Lynchburg, Va.; C.L. Lewis Construction & Company; also of Lynchburg--M.E. |
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