History Spirit Square

mcglohon theatre



duke energy theater

spirit square opened in 1976 arts center offering dance, visual arts, theater , music.

in 1972, first baptist church announced selling buildings on north tryon steet. in november 1974, ferebee, walters, , associates said cost of converting old church arts center $1 million. in april 1975, 100-member cultural arts committee asked mecklenburg county commissioners buy buildings, consultant ralph burgard said improve area. commissioners voted spend $335,000 buy buildings. six-month study spirit square development group, chaired alex mcmillan, resulted in plan spend $300,000 renovate education building on seventh street, , $2.5 million on sanctuary. on june 1, 1976, property leased spirit square arts council corp. 25 years. county voters approved $2.5 million in bonds in april 1977. in january 1980 after $200,000 grant ncnb, 800-seat theater named ncnb performance place. joel grey performed @ black tie opening ceremony april 15, 1980. knight gallery opened in november 1983 2,900 square feet, city s first nonprofit gallery contemporary visual art.

in november 1985, city gave spirit square $2.7 million renovation. spirit square prepared celebrate 10th anniversary, fund-raising campaign began in may 1986 rest of $5.5 million expected cost. $6.5 million renovation , 7,300-square-foot addition completed in 1990 gave arts center building had been desired since began, , new entrance @ 345 north college street. middleton mcmillan architects had use 5 buildings built between 1908 , 1980, part of church, , 1 had been printing plant. ceiling heights , floor materials changed in different buildings, making renovation challenging, , $400,000 had spent remove asbestos after estimate of $75,000, due incorrect plans. changes in interior design, total space increased 80,000 100,000 square feet. carved rosette arch @ new entrance recalled j.m. mcmichael, architect of first baptist. stained glass church taken out of storage , used add character , recall history.

with opening of north carolina blumenthal performing arts center in 1992, uptown charlotte had new location performances. led decreased role spirit square location events. in august 1995, spirit square agreed charlotte-mecklenburg arts & science council recommendation convert arts education center. in december of year, announced spirit square center arts , education taken on blumenthal organization june 30, 1997.

the 720-seat nationsbank performance place named loonis mcglohon theatre loonis mcglohon in january 9, 1998 event.

other venues began taking on of events. great aunt stella center became new home of cultural festivals , many of musical acts. chamber music moved local colleges. renamed theatre seeing less use, partly because small, children s theatre of charlotte had performances there. 1999, 30-year-old community school of arts main tenant. actor s theatre still used 180-seat duke power theatre, , north carolina dance theatre used part of space. tryon center visual art used galleries, , groups not related arts renting space. example, once again, former church being used church.

in 2007, mecklenburg county wanted sell part of spirit square complex, not mcglohon theatre or duke power theatre. in june 2006, commissioners voted end subsidies had reached $1.4 million year. instead, county s focus on new wachovia cultural campus on south tryon street. time, opera carolina, northwest school of arts , light factory using space , futures uncertain.

the 15-member spirit square community task force began working find way maximize site s potential , still keep historic character. originally, sale of property have helped pay new uptown baseball stadium, , arts groups have had leave, different financing method used stadium. opera carolina did leave , northwest school considering it. expansion of library s main branch next door had considered, since library might use part of property.

in 2008, plan announced build new main library , 15-story tower while keeping mcglohon theatre.