BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Soon, the bulldozers and forklifts parked on a vacant lot on Third Street will pave the way for the ArtsQuest Creative Factory powered by PPL.
On Tuesday, ArtsQuest held a groundbreaking ceremony for the five-story, 78,500 square-foot center.
The Creative Factory will replace the recently razed Banana Factory Arts and Educational Center, which was built in 1936.
The new building will house a recording studio, free galleries, a glass studio, 36 artist studios — a 20% increase from the Banana Factory — and a dedicated outdoor space.
ArtsQuest's President Kassie Hilgert and ArtsQuest Chief Operating Officer Curt Mosel were joined by ArtsQuest founder Jeff Parks, Bethlehem Mayor J. Willie Reynolds, Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure and state Sen. Lisa M. Boscola.
Also in attendance: PPL Foundation President Lissette Santana, Air Products’ Laurie Hackett and Boyle Construction’s Sean Boyle and Gregg and Cindy Feinberg, co-chairs of the Re-Imagine That! Campaign that will fund the new building.
Bringing hundreds of jobs
Construction for the project, spearheaded by Boyle Construction, is expected to have an economic impact in the area by bringing hundreds of construction jobs, according to Hilgert.
It also will be environmentally friendly, she said.
"What art does is it makes a place unique. When you hear people talk about it Northampton County or Bethlehem, or the region, what they talk about is why we're unique, why we feel different."Bethlehem Mayor J. Willie Reynolds
"This facility will be fully accessible, with thoughtful design that welcomes everyone," Hilgert said.
"It will be environmentally responsible, incorporating smart energy systems, water conservation technologies, and sustainable materials to reduce our footprint while increasing our impact."
Funding for the project was made possible by public, private, and individual sources (the Re-Imagine That! campaign continues).
A tentative completion is currently set for the second quarter of 2026. Construction is expected to take 12-14 months, officials have said.
"This is one of those days that you look around and you can't help but just appreciate the amazing place that we live," Mayor Reynolds said.
"And I think if you look at the growth of arts quests over the past 20, 30, 40 years, it's quite amazing."
Reynolds said the cultural center will let ArtsQuest further its educational programs and classes. Air Products Makerspace will house educational courses that offer programs in science, technology, engineering, art and STEAM related activities.
Doubling growth
With the new center, ArtsQuest hopes to double its growth. It said 5,000 to 10,000 more students will participate in the Creative Factory's programs.
"The building that's going to be here in a short time is going to help kids for generations. Kids we don't know that aren't our kids. And that is a testament to all of you and the hard work that it takes to get to this point."Bethlehem Mayor William Reynolds
"The building that's going to be here in a short time is going to help kids for generations," Reynolds said. "Kids we don't know that aren't our kids.
"And that is a testament to all of you and the hard work that it takes to get to this point."
In 2023, through the Bethlehem Area School District's Communications Career Pathways Program, ArtsQuest partnered with 10 school districts, along with private academies and institutions, to offer art-based school programming.
The five-story cultural center, which will house signage in English and Spanish, will further expand ArtsQuest's youth programs such as ArtSmart, Teen Takeover, Marketing Musikfest and jazz band showcases.
One of its classrooms will be named the Angela René Pessina Classroom, in honor of Angela Pessina, a former Pen Argyl Spanish teacher who passed away in 2012.
Additionally, the cultural center will be home to the Yoeman Family Volunteer Center, sponsored by Chuck and Cindy Yoeman, longtime volunteers at Musikfest and other ArtsQuest events.
Emerging artists, remembering Fowler
The cultural hub also will offer space for up-and-coming musicians.
The Martin Guitar Recording Studio, sponsored by Martin Guitar, will provide a dedicated space for local and visiting musicians to record and work on projects.
"Linny [Fowler] believed in the power of art to change lives, and she believed in this community with her entire heart. Her support and vision helped shape the Banana Factory as a home for artists, students and dreamers for more than two decades."ArtsQuest President Kassie Hilgert
"What art does is it makes a place unique" Reynolds said. "When you hear people talk about Northampton County or Bethlehem, or the region, what they talk about is why we're unique, why we feel different.
"It's because we give space for artists, for original music, for original art, to tell our own story. That's what brings us together. We don't get that in a lot of places anymore."
At Tuesday's ceremony, Hilgert took a moment to reflect on the work of Linny Fowler, the co-founder of the Banana Factory.
ArtsQuest's Linny Awards are named after Fowler, who passed away in 2013.
"It's important that we take a moment to honor an incredible woman whose love laid the foundation for everything here," Hilgert said.
"Linny believed in the power of art to change lives, and she believed in this community with her entire heart.
"Her support and vision helped shape the Banana Factory as a home for artists, students and dreamers for more than two decades."
The original factory was built by Theodoredis and Sons Banana Company.
In the late 1990s, ArtsQuest acquired the space and re-opened it as an arts and education hub in 1998.
