GSA Daily Staff Report
Published Jan. 26, 2010

The Peace Center will receive $2.5 million from the Greenville City Council to apply to its $21.5 million capital improvement project.

Developed two decades ago as a centerpiece for downtown Greenville’s redevelopment, the Peace Center has brought Broadway to the Upstate and has become a top tier venue for local performing arts.

The capital improvement project, which received approval by the Peace Center Board of Trustees in October, will include site improvements on the Center’s campus, as well as an expansion to the lobby and other patron amenities in the Peace Concert Hall.

“The Peace Center has planned significant improvements to its campus and facilities in order to make them more welcoming for the public and for the patrons,” said Steve Brandt, chairman of the Peace Center’s board of Trustees and publisher of The Greenville News. “A great deal of effort has been given to surveying both of these groups, and, as a result, the plan is based upon solid community input. The Council’s support has given us great confidence in the belief that our plan is attractive, timely and of significant importance to Greenville and those who live here.”

The Peace Center has engaged the Garvin Design Group, of Columbia, as architects for the project.

“We look forward to sharing the details of this exciting project with the community when the plan is finalized in the coming year,” said Peace Center President Megan Riegel.

The private funds segment of the campaign will be co-chaired by local business leaders Rick Pennell and Rick Timmons and is in the planning stage. The campaign will draw upon best practices of similar efforts across the nation and is expected to take two years to complete once it is under way.