Visual Arts Building, Kennesaw State University

Constructed on October 25, 1999, this building was seen as a connection with the community. As the Visual Arts Building went through a multitude of construction and authorization to become what it is today it is legendary as it was seen as the forgotten gem of Kennesaw at one point. Now in the year of 2023 The Visual Art Building of the Kennesaw campus has 32,000 square feet of state-of-the-art studio and classroom spaces. The building's central atrium hallways are illuminated with natural light and student artwork is often displayed throughout the building. These studios support our Applied Arts programs: Graphic Communications, Digital Animation, Illustration, and Sequential Art.

From 1966 to 1968, Art and Music courses at Kennesaw Junior College were offered through the Liberal Arts program. In 1968 the Division of Humanities was created, which offered associate in arts degrees in Art, Languages and Literature, Speech and Drama, and Journalism. Kennesaw Junior College was granted four-year status by the Board of Regents in 1976 and changed its name to Kennesaw College in 1977.The Division of Humanities awarded its first bachelor's degree in 1980. In 1983 the School of Arts and Behavioral Sciences was formed, which included the Department of Music.In 1985 the Department of Music was renamed the Department of Music and Performing Arts. The Department of Visual Arts was added in 1986. Kennesaw College was renamed Kennesaw State College in 1988. In 1996 Kennesaw State College became Kennesaw State University which in turn meant The Department of Music and Performing Arts would split into two new departments: Music and Theater. The School of the Arts was formed in 1998. In 2004 the Department of Theater was renamed the Department of Theatre and Performance Studies. The College of the Arts was organized in 2005 and began to offer a bachelor's degree in dance in 2008. In 2010 the Department of Theatre and Performance Studies incorporated Dance to become the Department of Theatre, Performance Studies and Dance. On July 8th, 1998, The Board of Regents approved President Siegel’s request to divide the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences into two distinct units: A School of the Arts and a College of Humanities & Social Sciences. Three departments (Music, Theater, and Visual Arts) would form the School of the Arts. By Monday, October 25, 1999, the new Visual Arts building opened and is considered GROUNDBREAKING. Dr Betty L. Siegal with the help from the extraordinary commitments of Wayne Gibson, Joe Meeks, Roberta Griffin, Pat Taylor, Barbara Swindell, Carol Edwards and Tom Salter without their unfailing support and enthusiasm, the introduction of the Visual Arts building would not be. In 1997-98 They celebrated the "Year of the Arts" on campus as it was a celebration not only of our commitment to the arts but also of their connection with the larger community. To the Higher Ups the "Year of the Arts" proved that the community on and off campus was eager to support a vital arts program. Since then, now flashing toward 2001, there were 400 majors and the new addition of Art Graphic Design Facilities, Fine Art Studios, Art Education Classrooms and Art History Lecture Rooms.

Earlier than that on October 18, 1989 from Patrick Taylor, Chair Department of Visual Arts sent a request to Dean George Beggs asking for materials that described the type of studio building the art program will need in order to continue their development. Blueprints that were developed were sent to get a better idea of the design and utilization of the building. The students made the drawings which scored the quality of students that the university was attracting. On February 23 1990 from George Beggs to Dr. Ed Rugg there was a need for an additional Visual Arts Building due to the severe facility limitations in serving their art programs, there was an immediate assistance to obtaining the approval of and the construction of a metal building with a concrete floor to house their sculpture welding, foundry, and ceramics programs. As they desperately needed space, but it does not have to be any more than a basic structure. As originally the building was 55x55 and 27’ tall in the center. The total cost of construction was $132,000 as it was doubled because of added treatments.

There was a contract for the “Visual Arts Building” project that stated in consideration of the agreement of the owner as authorized on February 26,1999 to an amendment to the above captioned Architectural Contract, above parties agree to amend the Architectural Contract as follows “Construction document phase of this project must be completed by May 3, 1999.” The description was that the New construction of the Visual Arts Building was to include approximately 37,500 gross square feet. The spaces include art studios and labs, computer lab, the maximum number of faculty offices possible, with art storage spaces, kiln and glaze room and support spaces per the program.

Funding for a new $4,700,000 building was approved by the Georgia State Legislature for fiscal year 1999. A museum connected to an art building will provide students with a superb learning laboratory, attract more visitors and donations of art, and move Kennesaw State to the forefront of cultural institutions in the South. It was meant to have increased visibility in the media, increased reputation, increased value of a degree from KSU, more students and art pieces.

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item(s), box number, folder number]; College of the Arts. publications, Flourish, 2003-2019; KSU/40/06/001; Department of Museums, Archives, and Rare Books, Kennesaw State University.

Groundbreaking, Visual Arts Building, October 25, 1999, Box: 1. College of the Arts. Office of the Dean. Joseph D. Meeks papers, 1995-2017, KSU-40-01-002. Kennesaw State University Archives.

Kennesaw State College Building Notes: Visual Arts Building, Humanities Addition, 1989-1990, Folder 13, Box: 11, Folder: 13. Facilities Planning and Design. building plans, records, 1965-2004, KSU-18-02. Kennesaw State University Archives.

Building Notes: Visual Arts Building, 1998-1999, Folder 23, Box: 2, Folder: 23. Business and Finance. Earle Holley records, 1963-2007, KSU-17-06. Kennesaw State University Archives.

Visual Arts Building, groundbreaking and construction, 1999-2000. University Relations. Images. Campus Buildings and Landscapes (1966-2001 and undated), KSU-29-05-002. Kennesaw State University Archives.

Visual Arts Building dedication, 2001, Box: 3. Betty L. Siegel. subject and event files, 1972-2019, KSU-03-03-007. Kennesaw State University Archives.