One of the first and most important decisions for any building project is so basic as to be almost taken for granted: Where to build? I’m on the board of Vashon Allied Arts (VAA), and together with the staff and other community arts organizations, we studied this question in depth for over two years before concluding that the southeast corner of Center, adjacent to the Blue Heron building, is the ideal location for a unique Island arts facility. Our thinking can be gathered into three important reasons.
First, the project is more than just a new building — it will be an interactive arts campus. When Kay White first offered the inspiration and seed money to develop an acoustically sophisticated, Island-sized concert hall, a wonderful vision began to emerge. If a flexible performing and visual arts building could be designed to work in collaboration with a renovated and reconfigured Blue Heron, great opportunities, as well as solid economies, could be generated for all arts-oriented Islanders. Additionally, if the space inside each building were planned to work in concert with the spaces between and around each structure, the result would be a unique multi-use arts campus.
Just like the current Blue Heron, the campus’s new building will not sit quietly between performances. Rather, it will be a hard working, around-the-clock educational facility with a theater, art gallery, classrooms and support facilities. Rooms will be designed for flexibility and will serve either as classrooms, dressing rooms or green rooms, depending on the immediate need, thereby reducing the redundancy of two remotely located structures. Administrative offices might also be consolidated to maximize space, while saving both money and communication headaches. Equipment and strategies to maintain both structures would also simplify. The close proximity of the two buildings, plus a large, versatile outdoor space — all to be designed to work together on a daily basis — will be efficient and programmatically very exciting.
Another benefit I like about using VAA’s three adjoining properties is that by restoring the eastern-most acreage and preserving those wetlands, the campus gains not only the permits for required off-street parking next to the theater but also a beautiful, new wetland preserve.
Second, it’s best for families and their children. One of the hallmarks of VAA programming is the involvement of Island kids at all levels. Developing the new arts campus at Center allows kids from Chautauqua Elementary, McMurray Middle School and Vashon High School easy pedestrian access to their after-school arts classes. Pathways on the campus will connect with existing paths to assist students walking and riding from these schools. I hope this will relieve at least one daily chauffeuring errand for many parents! The more we studied the land surrounding the VAA properties, the more we began to realize the terrific potential of completing an entire educational neighborhood including all school district buildings and the existing interconnecting trail system.
Finally, it returns Center to its historic roots.
The Blue Heron building, originally constructed in 1912 as the Odd Fellows Hall, is a significant piece of Vashon’s historic Center. Few Vashon buildings can claim Island-grown “drop-siding,” and even fewer can claim such a long history of public use. When Center was first established as one of Vashon’s original “intersection” villages, the four corners were divided equally between private mercantile concerns and public spaces. There were two churches, a school and a gathering hall. I’m sure I’m not alone in appreciating the small, pedestrian feeling of Center, and the VAA sees a real opportunity to add back crucial public space to the wonderful, historic mix of businesses already there.
Building any facility requires lots of careful research, thinking and rethinking. I am confident that VAA has quietly done its homework on this project. Whether you and your fellows Islanders will eventually watch or participate in an evening concert, take an arts class or simply grab a cup of coffee at the Minglement before enjoying a half hour gallery visit, the many advantages of developing VAA’s facility at Center just seem too good to pass up.
— Bruce Morser is a freelance illustrator who lives on Vashon.
