The Sandy Springs City Council approved an approximately $600,000 contract during its July 15 meeting to modify a modular building for use as the Abernathy Arts Center’s Temporary Arts Facility.
A contract was awarded to Rubio and Sons Interiors to modify a modular building. The firm will reconfigure interior spaces to support flexible arts programming, upgrade utilities to code, make it ADA compliant, and enhance its exterior.
The modular building was previously used as a temporary fire station during the construction of Fire Station No. 2. Reeves Young used it as a construction trailer during the construction of the Police Department Headquarters/Municipal Court building. That was another cost savings for the city, according to a city spokesperson.
“In February 2024, the city demolished the deteriorating stone buildings to clear the site and make way for the development of a temporary ceramic arts facility to provide a functional and interim facility for ceramic arts programming,” City Manager Eden Freeman said.
The temporary structure will be prepared for five to 10 years of use. Freeman said if the city council had voted to move forward on City Springs Phase 2 in January, the preferred location, it would still take three years to before a new arts building is completed.
Freeman told the council that the original modification plan fell through when the contractor was unable to secure the necessary insurance and bonding.
Related stories:
• Sandy Springs approves contract for modular art studio
• Sandy Springs proposes modular building for ceramics classes
• Art classes resume at Abernathy Arts Center after long pandemic closure
Council member Tibby DeJulio said he was glad the city was doing this because the city hadn’t offered pottery classes since before COVID.
Council member Jody Reichel wanted to move forward with the temporary facility so as to stop the city from moving forward with a permanent structure. But her motion to reduce the size of the temporary structure’s deck to free money for a master site plan failed.
The Abernathy site’s topography makes a deck necessary to meet ADA compliance, said Dave Wells, director of facilities/capital construction and building operations.
Freeman said she would work with staff to find approximately $75,000 in funding needed for that study.
“I think I agree this is not a long-term vision any of us have for arts in Sandy Springs [regarding its temporary status]. We deserve, the city, the community deserves a permanent, high-quality art center,” Council member Andy Bauman said.
Bauman expects the funding solution would be a community-led bond or broader parks investment.
Council member Melody Kelley voted for the contract but said she wanted to see funding for the Abernathy site’s master plan.
The city will be able to move the ceramics equipment to a permanent structure when it is built, Wells said..
