Hendricks gives former library to Beloit College
BELOIT — The former Beloit Public Library downtown will become an art facility for Beloit College.
The 48,000-square-foot structure is a gift to the college from Beloit business leader Diane Hendricks and her late husband and Beloit College trustee, Ken Hendricks, according to a news statement from the college.
The facility will be named the Hendricks Center.
“The Hendricks family has once again expressed confidence in the future of Beloit—both the city and the college,” said James Sanger, chairman of the Beloit College Board.
The new educational facility will house the college’s music and dance programs and other campus educational activities, according to a news statement.
The building became available in April when the library moved into the former JCPenney department store at the south end of the Eclipse Center.
The city of Beloit bought the space in the Eclipse Center, which is owned by The Hendricks Group. The center is the former Beloit Mall.
As part of the arrangement, the city transferred ownership of the downtown library to the Hendricks family which, in turn, gave it to the college as a completed new facility.
“Through outreach programs and workshops, it (the Hendricks Center) will also augment the arts offerings available to young people in the community and help to inspire a new generation of artists and audiences,” Sanger said.
Following final design work, renovations are scheduled to begin this summer. The building is anticipated to be ready for summer programs next year with college classes starting in August 2010.
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Jun 27, 2009 at 9:52 a.m.
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Another shining example of private money being reinvested back to the community. If government would get out of the way, we would probably see more of this. Great Job and Thanks Diane!
Jun 27, 2009 at 3:17 a.m.
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This is another plus for Beloit's downtown. Also, the art incubator is directly across the street from the old library. Thank you, Hendricks family!
Jun 26, 2009 at 5:03 p.m.
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Interesting. The college has been creeping into the downtown more and more, with the bookstore and entrepreneurship center. And it will be a nice place to consolidate scattered offices, maybe making more room in places like Eaton Chapel where students already practice.
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