ArtsQuest celebrated a major milestone in its “Re-Imagine That! Capital Campaign” with a ceremonial brick breaking May 21 for the Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN), part of Jefferson Health, Turn & Grind Shop at the ArtsQuest Campus at SteelStacks.

“This building tells a powerful story,” said Kassie Hilgert, President & CEO of ArtsQuest. “The Turn & Grind Shop once helped build the machinery that powered our nation. Today, we’re honoring that legacy by transforming it into a flexible, multi-use space that will bring people together for exhibits, festivals, events and shared experiences.

“From Musikfest and Christkindlmarkt to new programming and corporate gatherings, this facility will play a critical role in how we continue to grow SteelStacks as a destination for arts, culture and community,” Hilgert said.

The event brought together state and local officials, sponsors, donors and community partners to mark the next phase of construction for the historic Bethlehem Steel facility, once a critical part of the United States’ industrial and military production, into a multi-use arts and cultural venue.

The ceremony included remarks from Pennsylvania Secretary of Revenue Patrick Browne; State Sen. Lisa Boscola; Northampton County Executive Tara Zrinski; City of Bethlehem Director of Community and Economic Development Laura Collins; Dr. Joseph Cacchione, CEO of Jefferson Health; ArtsQuest President & CEO Kassie Hilgert; Sean Boyle, President of Boyle Construction, and Gregg Feinberg, co-chair of the “Re-Imagine That! Capital Campaign.”

ArtsQuest Chief Operating Officer Curt Mosel opened and closed the program.

The brick breaking, which allowed guests to gather at a designated spot inside the building to tap bricks with ceremonial mini sledgehammers, served as a symbolic nod to its industrial past and its future.

Revitalizing 155-year-old building

Originally part of Bethlehem Steel’s No. 2 Machine Shop operations, the 26,000-square-foot Turn & Grind Shop played a vital role in shaping and finishing massive steel components to exact specifications.

During World War II, Bethlehem Steel supplied approximately 80% of the U.S. Navy’s armor plate and heavy guns, with facilities like the Turn & Grind contributing to the precision machining that powered more than 1,000 naval vessels.

The space is being reimagined, transforming from a site of industrial production into a dynamic, multi-purpose venue that will support arts programming, large-scale festivals, private events and corporate functions throughout the year.

The LVHN, part of Jefferson Health Turn & Grind Shop will provide expansion for Musikfest, Christkindlmarkt and Oktoberfest and creating new opportunities for community engagement and regional tourism.

Advancing “Re-Imagine That! Capital Campaign”

The Turn & Grind Shop is a cornerstone project of ArtsQuest’s “Re-Imagine That! Capital Campaign,” which includes the ArtsQuest Creative Factory powered by PPL. Together, these projects represent more than $80 million in investment in public arts infrastructure by ArtsQuest for Bethlehem’s SouthSide Arts District.

As SteelStacks continues to evolve as a regional and national destination for arts and culture, the revitalization of the Turn & Grind Shop emphasizes the growing connection between welcoming public spaces, social connection and overall community well-being.

“This project reflects what’s possible when healthcare, arts and community come together with a shared vision,” said Dr. Joseph Cacchione, CEO of Jefferson Health. “We are proud to support the transformation of the Turn & Grind Shop into a space that promotes wellbeing, connection and creativity, all key components of a healthy and thriving community.”

New chapter in adaptive reuse

The redevelopment of the Turn & Grind Shop, designed by MKSD Architects and developed by Boyle Construction, builds on ArtsQuest’s nationally-recognized work in adaptive reuse, continuing the transformation of the Bethlehem Steel site into a sustainable arts and cultural campus.

“The vision for the Turn & Grind Shop has always been about honoring the building’s legacy while reimagining how the community will experience it moving forward,” said Todd Chambers, Partner at MKSD Architects.

“Our design approach preserves the industrial authenticity and architectural character that make this structure so significant, while introducing flexible, modern spaces that will allow the building to evolve into a destination for arts, culture, hospitality and community connection,” Chambers said.

“From an engineering and construction perspective, it’s been an incredibly rewarding and complex undertaking to work within a 155-year-old building while carefully preserving the integrity and character of the original Turn & Grind Shop,” said Sean Boyle, President of Boyle Construction.

“As construction progresses, we’re carefully balancing restoration with innovation and adapting the building in a way that honors its legacy while transforming it into a new venue to support the arts and community experiences for generations to come,” Boyle said.

The “Re-Imagine! That Capital Campaign” is expected to co0nclude in 2027.