By Anne Marie Amacher
The Catholic Messenger
DAVENPORT — Sitting on the board of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra (QCSO), St. Ambrose University (SAU) president Amy Novak knew there were space issues for both entities. Now the two have partnered to build a new $24 million home to share in downtown Davenport at the site of the former YMCA at West Second and Gaines streets.
Galvin Fine Arts Center on the St. Ambrose University campus is home to space for music, art, theater and communication classes — classrooms, practice space and performances. And “it has space limitations,” Novak said. There are multiple levels in the building.
“We (St. Ambrose and the Quad City Symphony Orchestra) explored how we could share space and benefit our larger community,” she said.
During the process, she said it was learned that St. Ambrose, for its music needs, would generally use space Monday through Friday from about 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. “Our performances tend to be Friday or Saturday nights,” she said. The symphony primarily needs space for lessons in late afternoon and evening and performances are usually on Sundays. So there would not be much overlap of need to use a new facility at the same time.
The 30,000 square foot facility would include a 500 seat concert hall, classrooms and practice rooms.
Brian Baxter, executive director of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra, said QCSO initially looked for its own space. “When Amy and I met, we talked and we saw a lot of value in arts and education.” They then started talks on collaboration together. Next, they started checking with community members about the idea. Support was “overwhelmingly positive,” Baxter said.
Novak added there is excitement and this project “just makes sense.”
Downtown Davenport was selected because the two entities wanted to commit to the cultural district of that area. “We looked at a lot of spaces. This location is wonderful,” Baxter said. It is right off the Centennial Bridge, is not far from places like the Adler Theater and The Last Picture House. “It’s an arts and culture area.” It is outside the 100 year flood plain too, he noted.
St. Ambrose students have access to the bus line from campus to the center for those without vehicles. “This will be a wonderful asset and provide economic development,” Novak said.
As for Galvin Fine Arts Center, Novak said areas will be reconfigured for the departments remaining there. “We have outgrown space for all of them.”
Both entities have had to rent space from churches, schools or other facilities for performances and other needs.
The silent phase of fundraising has begun, Novak said. “We like the momentum so far.” Each entity is responsible for raising half of the total cost. “We hope to break ground in 18-24 months,” Novak said.
