KINGSTON, R.I. – Sept. 12, 2024 – University of Rhode Island leaders, faculty, and students will join state leaders and URI community members on Thursday, Sept. 19, to celebrate construction progress of the Fine Arts Center with a ceremonial beam signing. The event will take place under a tent behind the Fine Arts Center, 105 Upper College Road, Kingston, starting at 10 a.m.

The celebration will include greetings and comments from URI President Marc Parlange and Board of Trustees Chair Margo Cook, Gov. Dan McKee and state Senate and House lawmakers, along with URI faculty representatives. The event will feature performances from several URI students to showcase the University’s fine arts programs.

The $99 million project marks a major renewal for the 56-year-old center, which is a popular venue for arts lovers across the state. More than 50,000 visitors annually come to the Kingston Campus to enjoy theater productions, concerts and gallery exhibits. The center also houses URI’s theatre, music and art and art history departments, which serve over 3,000 students each academic year.

Completed in phases, renovations to the center have been partially funded by a voter-approved bond issue of $57.3 million in 2021, along with state and University funds. The project provides significant upgrades to the center, including construction of a 71,000-square-foot, three-story academic building that will feature a new theater lobby and art gallery on the first floor. In all, the project includes more than 166,000 square feet of new and renovated space. Along with modern classrooms, the project will create technical areas for digital art and media, recording studios, improved acoustics, and more public space and natural light.

Construction is scheduled to be completed in September 2025, with move in for the new addition scheduled for next winter. The beam that will be signed during the Sept. 19 celebration will be lifted into place this fall or early winter.

WHO: Gov. Dan McKee, House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski, URI President Marc Parlange, Board of Trustees Chair Margo Cook, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Barbara Wolfe, Dean of the College of Arts and Science Jen Riley, students Isaiah Agabi, Zeynep Balci, and Andrew Bock, and more. More than 300 URI community members are expected to attend.

WHAT: Beam signing and reception to celebrate Fine Arts Center construction.

WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 19, 10 to 11 a.m. Beam signing to follow speaking program.

WHERE: Tent behind Fine Arts Center, 105 Upper College Road.

TO MAKE COVERAGE ARRANGEMENTS CONTACT: Tony LaRoche, URI Communications, 401-874-4894, cell: 401-837-8275, anthony_laroche@uri.edu.