With the former Banana Factory Arts Center campus at 25 W. Third St., Bethlehem now a field of mud, gravel and memories following demolition, ArtsQuest began the site’s new life as the new Creative Factory Powered by PPL at the June 17 groundbreaking celebration. The occasional drizzle failed to dampen enthusiasm.

“This isn’t just a groundbreaking, it’s a commitment to future generations of artists, students and families,” said ArtsQuest Chief Operating Officer Curt Mosel as he served as emcee.

“Bethlehem is the beating heart of the Lehigh Valley,” added Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure, one of several regional leaders and supporters of the project speaking at the event.

“We are the smiling face of Northampton County,” continued Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds, building on Lamont’s remarks. “There’s a vibe here.”

Among the other notables on the roster of participants were Sen. Lisa Boscola; Joe Bergstein, chair of the ArtsQuest Board of Trustees and PPL Foundation Board Member; ArtsQuest President and CEO Kassie Hilgert; Air Products’ Laurie Hackett; Boyle Construction’s Sean Boyle; and Gregg and Cindy Feinberg, co-chairs of the Re-Imagine That! Capital Campaign.

Boscola spoke about creativity being a “key ingredient for a better world” and how it will be nurtured in the new facility. She lauded the community partnerships forged with the commonwealth, along with the leadership of Hilgert and her predecessor Jeff Parks at ArtsQuest that made the day’s celebration possible.

The former six-building Banana Factory complex will be replaced with a five-story, 78,500-square-foot hub for year-round arts access, community programming and education. ArtsQuest states the new arts center is designed with sustainability, accessibility and inclusion in mind.

The facility will include:

36 artist studios (a 20 percent increase from the Banana Factory facility)

A dedicated comedy venue

Expanded visual arts classrooms with sinks

A Communications Pathway program in partnership with the Bethlehem Area School District

A Martin Guitar Recording Studio

Modern galleries, flexible outdoor programming areas and community meeting and event areas

The Makerspace presented by Air Products

Environmental and smart building features with energy-efficient systems, water-saving fixtures and eco-conscious materials

It was noted that bricks and other materials from the Banana Factory are being recycled and reused as foundation materials for the new site in keeping with ArtsQuest’s sustainability goals.

“This is more than just a building, it’s a promise to our community,” Hilgert said. “We know that access to the arts improves academic achievement, emotional well-being and mental health. The ArtsQuest Creative Factory powered by PPL will help students succeed, artists thrive and communities connect, because the arts are not a luxury, they are a necessity.”

Jason Krugler and Carrie Senior from Levy Restaurants provided refreshments, including cookies adorned with the New Creative Factory Powered by PPL logo.

While the construction phase of the project officially begins at the West Third Street site, classes, programming and First Friday events continue a few blocks east at the ArtsQuest Center, 101 Founders Way, as well as at partner sites.

“We are kind of building the plane as it goes down the runway,” quipped Hilbert. Project completion is slated for some time in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Information: 610-332-1300; www.artsquest.org.