The new Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts (Charter Arts) facility, located at the corner of E. Third & Polk Streets in south Bethlehem is open and ready to welcome students for the start of the 2015/2016 school year.
After twelve years as a respected Lehigh Valley educational institution, Charter Arts has outgrew its previous leased location on East Broad Street.
The new facility in south Bethlehem will provide much-needed additional classrooms and studios, a resource library, digital laboratory, a ‘green’ roof, commons deli and a 350-seat performing arts theater. The building will also be classified as LEED Gold (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), a green building certification program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices.
Charter Arts is grateful to the countless individuals and businesses that, without their support, this project would not be possible.
If you or your business would like to be part of the new building by naming a room, a theatre chair or a sidewalk star….Click Here.
Every donation received is critical to the remaining fundraising goals for the project’s Capital Campaign.
The Journey
Groundbreaking...June 2013
Dignitaries and school officials take part in the ceremonial ‘dig’.
Removal of trees and preparation of site…December 2013
Digging on the site began in January 2014….
One of the worst winters in years…2014
Construction resumes….2014
October 2014– Former Governor Tom Corbett and Susan Corbett visit the site with students and school officials.
Governor Corbett and Mrs. Corbett pose for a picture at the project site with students, faculty and school administration.
January 2015- And the walls are up!
February 2015- Topping Off!
The last roof plank goes up!
May 2015….Charter Arts staff, faculty, parents and board members were excited to tour the new facility during a series of ‘hard hat’ tours.
Bethlehem Mayor Robert Donchez visited the site for a tour with Diane LaBelle.
June 2015….the Gala of Dreams takes place at the ‘under-construction’ facility. The first floor is transformed for the evening into an elegant venue.
Charter Arts Executive Director, Diane LaBelle, kicks off the 2015 gala with an official welcome in the under-construction theater.
The under-construction art gallery was transformed for the evening.
September 2015- Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Our new home…
The new Charter Arts building- Columbia Street entrance (this is student entrance).
The new Charter Arts Theatre seats 360 guests. This performance space is essential for the close to 90 performances and events produced by the school throughout the school year. The school’s former facility only housed a 150- seat black box theatre, which required many performances to take place off-site.
