Reimagining an underutilized campus garage as a public-facing arts hub, the Cleveland State Arts Renovation channels renewed energy for community creativity within the downtown corridor. The project expands CSU’s arts programs while stitching them into the broader cultural fabric, linking eastward to the Playhouse arts district and outward to the city’s robust ecosystem that includes the Cleveland Museum of Art and events like Ingenuity Fest. Grounded in the Euclid corridor’s urban renewal and commitment to walkable neighborhoods, the design prioritizes permeability and activation at street level, flexible galleries and performance zones that open to sidewalks, workshop and maker spaces visible from the public realm, and shared venues that host student showcases alongside local and entrepreneurial talent. Inside, adaptive spaces support rehearsal, exhibition, and production. 

Outside, improved pedestrian connections and welcoming entries transform a once-overlooked structure into a downtown destination. More than a building upgrade, the renovation is an expansive urban design effort, tying campus and city together to celebrate, cultivate, and sustain the arts in Cleveland.