Capital improvements to the roof and HVAC system at the Community Arts Center completed earlier this year were made possible through a $250,000 infrastructure project grant from the Williamsport Lycoming Community Fund at the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania, and mark the last of the large-scale updates to the downtown cultural venue.
A plaque acknowledging the grant that made that extensive work realizable is on display in the lobby of the CAC.
Work on the roof and HVAC system was completed while the theater remained mostly dark due to ongoing federal and state requirements related to the COVID-19 pandemic.After stage floor reconstruction and HVAC chiller replacement, strong winds in July 2019 rolled back the roof membrane on the historic building, causing rainwater to find its way to the basement. Subsequent investigation determined that the backstage HVAC system, which delivers conditioned air to the stage, house seats and dressing rooms, was functionally obsolete. The need to fully update the existing infrastructure prompted the CAC to apply for funding.
“A project of this magnitude requires us to partner with the local community to preserve this gem in our region,” said Ana Gonzalez-White, the CAC’s director of development. “We appreciate the continued generosity and support we receive for the Community Arts Center and truly value our relationship with the First Community Partnership of Pennsylvania.”
The CAC is a wholly owned subsidiary that merged with Pennsylvania College of Technology for administrative purposes effective July 1.