The Baum School of Art has begun its “Centennial Expansion and Renovation Project.”

“It’s the first phase of the project in honor of our Centennial,” says Baum School of Art Executive Director Shannon S. Fugate.

“Adding capacity for more students also allows us to show more art work. And our art auction has been growing as well,” Fugate says.

Bidding for The Baum School of Art 40th Annual Art Auction began at 6:30 p.m. May 10 and concludes at 10 p.m. May 17. The “Auction Premiere Party” was 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. May 10, The Baum School, 510 W. Linden St., Allentown.

“We just started construction on the expansion. We hope to be done with the expansion by September. And then right after that we do the renovation. We’re trying to do this without disrupting our class space. We hope to have the unveiling for the fall of 2026,” says Fugate.

The Fifth Street entrance to the Baum School was closed April 28 until further notice. Baum gallery and event attendees and students are to use the Linden Street entrance or the parking lot west entrance.

The Baum School began in Summer 1926 when artist Walter Emerson Baum’s classes for Allentown School District art teachers were dubbed “The Baum School.”

Initially housed in successive district school buildings, The Baum School of Art moved to its own building at 12th and Walnut streets, Allentown, in 1952. The Baum School has been at Fifth and Linden streets since 19 87.

“The expansion is the first phase and it will consist of additions. It’s a little over 6,600-square-feet that we will be adding,” says Fugate. The Baum School is now approximately 26,000-square-feet.

“One addition will be three stories on the southeast. The other addition is on the south side of the building where we’re adding a second story over the first story,” Fugate says.

“The sculpture garden will be the same and the horse won’t move. We have a box around the horse [the Leonardo da Vinci Horse sculpture] to protect it. We worked with the construction company and the conservator to come up with a plan,” says Fugate.

In the southeast addition, on the first floor will be a new art gallery and student display area, on the second floor will be a new youth classroom and on the third floor will be a new life drawing and painting classroom.

In the south addition will be a multi-purpose primarily watercolor and illustration classroom.

There will be new amenities, including three bathrooms on the second and third floor of the southeast addition and two bathrooms on second floor of the south addition.

“The next phase after the expansion will be a top-to-bottom renovation,” Fugate says.

Renovation

• Modernized Classrooms: Updated facilities with contemporary equipment and energy-efficient lighting.

• Modernized Fashion Studio: Upgraded workspace with industry-standard tools, including inclusive size and gender-inclusive dress forms, professional cutting tables, and additional sewing stations to support the school’s growing fashion-design program.

• STEAM Maker Studio: Integrating art with science, technology, engineering and math through cutting-edge technology featuring 3D printing, digital fabrication, photography and laser engraving efficient lighting.

“We’ll be expanding the ceramics studio, making that classroom bigger and then expanding the kiln room,” says Fugate. “We’re going to be adding a new electric kiln and gas kiln. Renzo [Faggioli, master ceramist who was on the Baum School faculty for 50 years] built it. It’s been operating for 40 years. The one we’re getting is computer-operated,” Fugate says. There will be an ADA-accessible potter’s wheel, and expanded workspace for hand-building and wheel-throwing techniques.

Also on tap

• New Gallery: A professional exhibition space to showcase student work, faculty exhibitions, visiting artists, as well as expanding the school’s capacity to share art with the community.

• Flexible Event Space: An expanded Fowler Community Room for art auctions, community gatherings, lectures and workshops featuring retractable walls to adapt to events of various sizes.

• Updated Sculpture Garden: A refreshed Charles C. Dent Sculpture Garden showcasing the Da Vinci Horse and physically connecting our building to the Allentown Arts Park.

Building-wide

• Enhance Visitor’s Experience: flooring, lighting, modernized bathrooms, and communal areas.

• Sustainable Infrastructure: Energy-efficient lighting, HVAC, and water systems to reduce environmental footprint and operating costs.

• Enhanced Digital Connectivity: State-of-the-art technology infrastructure supporting innovative opportunities and digital arts education.

“The last capital investment was 25 years ago [2001],” says Fugate, adding, “This year, we’re going to exceed 3,600 students. And every term we have a wait list of 70 students.”

The Baum School of Art recently received its accreditation renewal from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Precollegiate Arts Schools.

Students range in age from 5 to 99. “Our eldest student just passed. She was 99. The same age as us,” Fugate says.

The Baum School provides more than $175,000 annually in financial aid, scholarships and community outreach programs.

Centennial Campaign

The Baum School is in “the quiet phase” of “The Centennial Campaign: Investing in our future.”

“We have raised enough to move ahead with the additions. There will be naming opportunities,” says Fugate.

In November 2024, the Baum School received $1 million from the Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program.

The Baum School has received $1 million from the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development Local Share Account from slot machine licenses.

The Baum School received $300,000 from the Harry C. Trexler Trust.

Private donations have been made toward the Baum expansion project.

North Star Construction Management, Inc., is in charge of the Baum expansion project.

“We’re not really making changes to the way the building looks. We’re keeping with the aesthetic of the building,” Fugate says.

“The south addition was something that Rudy and Rose [Ackerman] wanted to do,” says Fugate.

“From 1965 to 2015, the late Dr. Rudy S. Ackerman dedicated his life to serving The Baum School of Art. The late Rose Ackerman also proudly served the school for 36 years as Director of Development from 1976-2011,” states the Baum School website.

“The expansion was something we wanted to do before Covid. We really came back strong after the pandemic,” says Fugate.

“With all the development going on, it’s really nice to have a beautiful community art school.

“And Baum may only be a handful of community art schools that have been around for 100 years,” Fugate says.

“We’re excited for the students and for the school and for the community,” says Fugate.

To support the Centennial Campaign, contact: Shannon S. Fugate, Baum School of Art Executive Director, 610-433-0032, shannon@baumschool.org

Information: https://www.baumschool.org/