Town Officials Targeting March for Vernon Community Arts Center Completion

Construction on the new Vernon Community Arts Center could be completed next month, town officials said.

Town Administrator John Ward said this week that a grand opening event will be scheduled when the building can be occupied sometime in March.

The building at the corner of Hartford Turnpike and Center Road was constructed in 1927 as the County Home School for children and it served in that capacity until 1950, when its students were integrated into the Vernon school system.

The building also housed kindergarten and adult education classes over the years.

The conversion has an estimated price tag of $1.7 million and it is being funded by two state grants.

In 2008, the town received a $300,000 grant from the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism, and last last year, Vernon received $1.5 million from the Department of Economic and Community Development.

Construction is slated for a single phase and completion is targeted for late fall. The architectural firm of Quisenberry Arcari designed the building and A. Secondino & Son Inc. is the general contractor.

Town officials are saying that the center will be the most up-to-date in Tolland County and it will feature a multi-purpose performance space, gallery space, meeting rooms and classrooms.