Glenn & Viola Walters Cultural Arts Center facts for kids

Glenn & Viola Walters Cultural Arts Center
Southeast corner
Former names	Trinity Lutheran Church
General information
Type	Arts center
Location	Hillsboro, Oregon, United States
Coordinates	45°31′22″N 122°58′55″W / 45.52278°N 122.98194°W / 45.52278; -122.98194
Construction started	1947
Completed	1949
Owner	City of Hillsboro
Landlord	Hillsboro Parks & Recreation Department
Technical details
Floor count	3
Floor area	15,664 square feet (1,455.2 m2)

The Glenn & Viola Walters Cultural Arts Center is a cool place in downtown Hillsboro, Oregon. It's a spot where you can enjoy different kinds of art and live shows. The center opened in 2004. It's inside a unique red stone building that was built in 1949. This building used to be a Lutheran church. The city of Hillsboro owns this three-story building. They run it through their Parks and Recreation Department.

The Walters Cultural Arts Center has areas for art exhibits. It also has classrooms where you can learn about art. Plus, there's a big hall that can seat 200 people for performances. The building has two floors above ground and one basement level. In total, it has about 15,664 square feet of space. It's located on East Main Street, close to other important buildings. The center is named after Glenn and Viola Walters. They were a local couple who gave $1 million to help create the center. This money helped buy the building and pay for its $2.4 million makeover.

How the Arts Center Started

From Church to Arts Hub

The building that is now the Walters Cultural Arts Center has an interesting past. It was first built for the Trinity Lutheran Church. This church group started in 1917. They got their first church building in 1923. By the 1940s, the church needed a bigger place. So, they bought land in downtown Hillsboro in 1941.

A rock quarry in Camas, Washington, offered the church a special deal. They could have as much red rock as they wanted for only $1,000. The church just had to move the rock to Hillsboro. Building started in 1947. The new church was finished in 1949. By the late 1990s, the church needed even more space. They began building a new, larger church in another part of the city.

A New Purpose for the Building

The church didn't want their old building to be torn down. They also didn't want to sell it to just anyone. At the same time, the city of Hillsboro was looking for a place for an arts center. They had a plan called "Hillsboro 2020 Vision." This plan aimed to make the city a better place to live. It included creating an arts and culture center.

The city bought the church building in November 2000. They paid $1.325 million for it. Most of this money came from a big donation. Glenn and Viola Walters gave $1 million to the city in 1999. They wanted to help pay for an arts center. The Walters family made their money from running a plant nursery nearby.

Making the Building Modern

The city hoped to open the new arts center quickly. But it took longer than expected. Construction to change the church into an arts center began in December 2002. A company called WaterLeaf Architecture & Interiors designed the changes. The building sits on a large piece of land, about 54,648 square feet.

The renovations included many updates. They put on a new roof and created a new main entrance. They also added an elevator. To make the new entrance, workers carefully removed some of the hand-quarried stone walls. The updates also made the building safer in earthquakes. They also made it follow the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This means it's easy for everyone, including people with disabilities, to use. The city wanted to keep the old charm of the building.

The total cost for these changes was $2.4 million. The city paid for 60% of these costs. Some money also came from selling bricks to the public. These bricks were then used in the outdoor areas.

Opening Day and Beyond

The Glenn & Viola Walters Cultural Arts Center officially opened on March 16, 2004. The total cost for the whole project, including buying the building, was about $3.5 million. The center gets money to operate from the city. It also gets money from fees people pay to use the center or attend events.

Since opening, the center has added new programs. A new classical music concert series started in 2009. They also began a book club about arts and culture. In April 2010, the Oregon Mandolin Orchestra played their first concert ever at the center.

About the Building

The center is located on Main Street at Fifth Avenue in downtown Hillsboro. It's just two blocks from the Hillsboro Central/3rd Avenue Transit Center MAX light rail station. The building covers 15,664 square feet. Inside, you'll find five classrooms, a lobby, and meeting rooms. There's also a box office, an art gallery, and a large auditorium. The main part of the building has cool rock walls. The auditorium has tall, arched ceilings and beautiful stained-glass windows. The building used to have a stone chimney. But it was removed to make space for the elevator. This elevator helps the center follow ADA rules.

The center has a T-shape and three levels. The basement level has classrooms. These are used for art classes like pottery, sculptures, and ceramics. The second floor has the exhibition gallery space. It also has rooms for many different uses. This floor focuses on visual arts. On the main level is the 2,000 square foot auditorium. This is where the church's main worship area used to be. The auditorium can seat up to 200 people. It is used for concerts, talks, plays, and other fun events.

Outside, there's a garden and a lawn area to the east. This lawn has a small stage. It's used for outdoor events when the weather is nice, like summer concerts. A new wheelchair ramp was added to the east side. This is where the new entrance is. The building also has two outdoor terraces and a kitchen inside.

What Happens at the Center

The Walters Cultural Arts Center was planned to help downtown Hillsboro grow. It's like a partner to the Hillsboro Civic Center. It is the city's first building just for the arts. City leaders hoped it would attract artists and art lovers to downtown. They also hoped it would encourage art studios to open. They wanted art festivals to happen there too. This would bring more people downtown, especially after businesses close for the day. Before, most shops closed by 6:00 p.m. The center can also be rented out for private parties and events.

Many different performances happen at the Walters Cultural Arts Center. These include opera, folk music, country music, and spoken word acts. You can hear poetry readings and interesting talks. Art exhibits have featured many different themes. These shows have included interior design, crafts, sculptures, and fine art.