When the first six artists arrive in the fall, to be followed by six more in the spring, they'll find a building that caters to their need for self-sufficient work space while keeping them connected to the city around them. The studios are spacious. For sculptors, the work space is two stories high and has a bridge crane for handling the largest creations. A premium has been placed on lighting. Every studio, nearly every room, has both fluorescent and incandescent fixtures.
More options mean more control for the visually aware, for working and displaying.
Artists also will find deep, stainless steel sinks nearly everywhere they turn. That way, most any room can be converted into a studio if the space is needed. Neutral white walls make nearly every room a potential display area. High-speed Internet access makes every studio a potential Web site. The urban-industrial feel of the interior's steel beams is carried over in ventilation ducts, plumbing and wiring that are in full view overhead.