Construction Begins on New Whitcomb Art Building

Construction of the new $8.9 million Whitcomb Art Building at Knox College is underway, as foundation work began this fall, and erection of the steel framework is planned for mid-December. 

The project is anticipated to take 12-18 months, with a projected opening during fall 2016 or winter 2017. The general contractor is P.J. Hoerr of Peoria, Illinois.

A Tumblr blog, whitcombartbuilding.tumblr.com, tracks progress, including time-lapse video.

Designed by the Lake|Flato architectural firm, the 30,000-square-foot facility will feature seven teaching studios for painting, printmaking, design, sculpture, ceramics, drawing and digital art.

It also will include separate metalworking and woodworking shops, a two-story critique hall, seminar and lecture spaces and faculty offices.

Faculty and seniors working on capstone projects will have dedicated studio spaces.

Storm water will be channeled into native prairie plantings and a retention pond designed to control runoff into the municipal system, just two of the features that will qualify the building for LEED certification.

The building is named after Dick '57 and Joan Whitcomb '56 who donated $5 million toward the project. It is part of the fundraising initiative Above & Beyond that has raised more than $50 million in five years to support and enhance the student educational experience and campus facilities.