APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Lawrence University and the Trout Museum of Art are planning a new building in downtown Appleton.
The new four-story building is set for the south side of College Avenue between Durkee and Drew streets. The museum will occupy the first floor. The rest of the building is set to include Lawrence faculty offices, meeting and learning spaces for the university and market-rate housing.
Governing boards of both the university and museum have approved the partnership.
The 120,000-square-foot building adjoins a vacant lot and office buildings currently owned by the university. An anonymous donor has purchased an area for the museum.
“A new state-of-the-art visual art museum will be an important new asset for our community,” Trout Museum of Art executive director Christina Turner said in a news release. “We passionately believe that art opens minds and changes people’s lives each and every day and are excited to create a world-class facility and community space that expands access to art and art education for the Fox Cities.”
“Seeing two great institutions come together to provide innovative and exciting new educational, cultural, and community programming is a win for Appletonians and people across the Fox Cities,” Appleton Mayor Jake Woodford said in a news release.
News of the new building comes about six months after the Trout Museum of Art dropped plans to pursue a new location at Ellen Kort Peace Park.
Construction is expected to take about 18 months. A start date was not announced.
