ArtsQuest celebrated a ceremonial beam signing Oct. 16 as the next major milestone in the construction of the Creative Factory powered by PPL.

The Creative Factory, a $32 million, five-story, 78,500-square-foot facility, will expand opportunities for visual and performing arts, education and community programming across the Lehigh Valley. Designed with accessibility and adaptive reuse in mind, the building will include 36 artist studios, a dedicated 155-seat comedy theater, expanded classrooms, modern galleries, larger glass studio with observation space, outdoor programming spaces, a Communications Pathway partnership with the Bethlehem Area School District, Air Products Makerspace and more.

Speakers included Sen. Lisa Boscola; Mayor J. William Reynolds; Gregg Feinberg, Co-Chair of the Re-Imagine! That Capital Campaign; Lissette Santana, president, PPL Foundation; and Kassie Hilgert, ArtsQuest president and CEO.

“The beam signing is a symbolic and exciting step forward in our journey,” Hilgert said. “Each milestone brings us closer to opening doors to a space where creativity and learning come together in ways that will benefit generations to come, across the Lehigh Valley.”

“Signing this beam is a tangible celebration of what our community can achieve when we come together,” said Cindy Feinberg, co-chair, Re-Imagine That! Capital Campaign. “Every milestone reminds us how meaningful it is to invest in spaces that inspire others, representing not only the progress of the Creative Factory but the creativity, energy and vision that make Bethlehem’s SouthSide a vibrant cultural destination.”

The Creative Factory is part of ArtsQuest’s Re-Imagine That! Capital Campaign, which also includes the revitalization of the Lehigh Valley Health Network part of Jefferson Health Turn & Grind Shop, a former Bethlehem Steel building being transformed into a modern, industrial event venue for expanding flagship festivals, hosting educational and scientific exhibits from throughout the country and much needed private event space.

Together, these projects underscore ArtsQuest’s commitment to adaptive reuse, cultural development and economic growth, not only within the arts district of SouthSide Bethlehem but throughout the entire Lehigh Valley.

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