College hires firm to study feasibility of 'arts' block

Oberlin College has selected the firm of Westlake Reed Leskosky to conduct a feasibility study on developing a "green" arts district on the east side of Tappan Square that would reflect the college and the community's commitments to sustainability, the arts, and education.

Information gathering for the feasibility study began in April and is expected to be concluded by late fall or early in 2009. As part of the study, Westlake Reed Leskosky's associates will be gathering input by meeting with officials from Oberlin, the college, public schools, and local businesses and civic groups as well as governmental representatives from the northeast Ohio region. Westlake Reed Leskosky will also engage the college and Oberlin community in general.

"I look forward to reading Westlake's recommendations," Marvin Krislov, president of Oberlin College, said. "I think there may be many opportunities for the college and the city of Oberlin to capitalize on our strengths in the arts and our leadership in sustainability, while respecting and honoring Oberlin's important heritage and historic buildings."

The study will analyze the potential of the block on the east side of Tappan Square, which is home to the Allen Memorial Art Museum and Hall Auditorium. The block being studied is bordered by Lorain Street to the north, Main Street to the west, Pleasant Street to the east, and College Street to the south.

Westlake Reed Leskosky was selected after a nationwide search. The firm has offices in Phoenix, Cleveland, Washington D.C., and Los Angeles. Founded in 1905, it offers a full range of planning, sustainable design, engineering and architectural services.

The feasibility study is not a plan or blueprint for development, explained Ronald Watts, Oberlin College's vice president for finance. "Westlake Reed Leskosky will analyze and evaluate various options for developing the site, and recommend what is financially viable. Whether their recommendations are pursued would depend on many factors."

If the block is developed, the college would partner with the city. Such a project would likely create new jobs, increase the city's tax base and bed-tax revenue, offer a richer cultural experience to students of the city schools and the college, and heighten downtown Oberlin's attractiveness as an arts and cultural destination.

Westlake Reed Leskosky also designed the Phyllis Litoff Building, which will house the Conservatory of Music's jazz studies department and its academic programs in music history and music theory. It will be the first music facility in the world to receive a gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating. Groundbreaking on that project is expected this month.