Summit Artspace, and its nearly century-old building, is undergoing $1 million in crucial renovations to open spaces and update systems, all while conserving the structure’s provenance.
The construction started in August — the renovations are needed to both improve the space and to support future programming, said Natalie Grieshammer Patrick, who was named Artspace’s executive director Sept. 19 after serving in an interim role.
While ensuring the building’s eminent history is preserved, the work will include refinishing, new coats of paint, new pathways to navigate the building, more restrooms, roomier studio spaces and HVAC and duct system upgrades.
Beyond the physical renovations, Summit Artspace will revisit its past programming and enhance gallery spaces for resident artists (some were temporarily displaced by the construction), to exhibit work and host events.
“In general, it’s just a new opportunity to get people in the space and get people excited about the space,” Grieshammer Patrick said.
Historic building is no stranger to change
The building where Summit Artspace is housed has worn many faces through the years, racking up history of note in the city. It began as the newly built headquarters of the Akron Beacon Journal in 1927, then served as the main Akron Public Library location until the late 1960s.
“We are in an almost 100-year-old building, and there’s been some deferred maintenance,” Grieshammer Patrick said. “So, they viewed this budget opportunity as a good time to allocate those funds to Summit Artspace and the building we operate in.”
The funds to kickstart the renovation were allocated by Summit County, which owns the building.
Summit Artspace has “done a great job of not only helping to grow our artists’ community and giving them a place to not only create but to sell their art, provide classes,” said Greta Johnson, director of communications and assistant chief of staff for Summit County.
“So, the building needs some upgrades. These are going to be the type of upgrades that people will feel but maybe not see.”
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What do the upgrades and changes include?
Those changes include completely black ceilings, new flooring and stairwells with a fresh coat of paint that lead to and from gallery spaces. Some resident artists will notice hallways that open up into the first-floor gallery space and a “lounge” area to recharge.
A few of the studio spaces will grow as well, making more room for artists to create, host events, teach art lessons and sell or exhibit their works.
The building is not new to change — this is its second refurbishment. The business offices, located on the second floor and historically the base of brothers John S. and James L. Knight, were remodeled several years ago, keeping much of their original wood-paneled style.
Amid the current renovations, the provenance of the Akron Beacon Journal’s home from 1927 until it moved into the Akron Times-Press building at 44 E. Exchange St. in 1937 will not be lost — in some cases, artifacts will be unveiled and made accessible to visitors.
The wood paneling on a once-tucked-away staircase will be revealed, and the staircase will become a public path from the first floor to the second-floor gallery. The entryway, hallway and marbled elevators will be kept in their current states. Framed photos that remind viewers of what the building’s workspaces once looked like in its 1927 newspaper publishing days will continue to hang on the walls in the entryway.
Resident artists temporarily displaced, finding alternative ways to create
Thirty resident artists use Summit Artspace as a home to let their creativity fly. Many of them were displaced because of the renovations, pausing their artistry — for some, it halted a main source of income.
“I have had to pivot,” said Robert Reza Greer Sr., a Summit Artspace resident artist for five years. “Losing studio space for three to four months, it does require extra consideration. I’ve had to consider doing other things to supplement.”
Many of the artists have relocated to home studios or smaller workspaces across the art community in Akron, Greer said. Despite having to move out of Summit Artspace, the building needs the upgrades — he’s looking forward to the continuation of programming, illustrating and painting and other art happening in the space.
“Even though we’re displaced as artists,” Greer said, “I do think that the construction itself, it is a positive, and it is something that will benefit us when we come back.”
The renovations are on schedule and projected to be completed in early 2026.