New Building
Toledo Center for Live Arts Phase 1 Opening to Mark Transformative Moment for Performing Arts in Northwest Ohio Read More!
Construction Status
Updated on March 11, 2025
Major construction is complete in most first- and second-floor areas. Cosmetic work, including painting, baseboards, wallpaper, and fixtures, continues during the early morning and early afternoon. Certain areas will come online later in the spring and summer. These include The DeBacker Family Studio, The Gorun Family Studio, and the Van Tuinen Student Lounge, the youth orchestras’ Prime Studio, and the cafeteria/kitchen. TAPA remains committed to sealing off all active construction areas from the public during construction.
TAPA Administration is now fully operational in the admin area on the first floor and in the box office.
TAPA Major, on the first floor, now features sprung Harlequin floors with durable high traffic Marley. This ADA-accessible space hosts pre-primary, primary, and adaptive dance classes, plus Musically Me. Portable mirrors and barres are available. Harlequin floors are the same type of sprung flooring used at previous Toledo Ballet studios and are recognized as the leader of advanced technology flooring for dance, performing arts, events, and entertainment.
Some areas on the first floor are still undergoing finishing work and will be cordoned off from common areas and rehearsal spaces.
Ballet Studio A on the second floor now features a soundproof divider, creating two smaller studios. It has new sprung Harlequin floors, Marley surfaces, mirrors, and barres.
New bathrooms and dressing rooms have been installed on the second floor for students’ use. These include multiple private changing areas and will also feature lockers and benches.
The Robert Bell Studio on the second floor is now available for music rehearsals and performances and will temporarily host level 2 ballet, jazz, and tap classes. It features Marley flooring, portable mirrors, and barres. Some cosmetic finishing work will continue during the day.
The DeBacker Family Studio, The Gorun Family Studio, and the Van Tuinen Student Lounge will remain under construction in the coming weeks, sealed off from student areas and accessible only to authorized personnel.
Industrial cleaning services have been and will continue to be utilized to deep clean spaces on a regular basis. We have also performed air quality tests and will continue to do so for the duration of this project. Even during high levels of active construction, air quality in the building has consistently met safety guidelines. Additional commercial air scrubbers with HEPA filters have been running on the second floor to further improve air quality.
All construction materials and equipment will be moved out of student and common areas at the end of each workday, and rooms will be cleaned and prepped prior to the start of any classes.
FAQs
Why can't I find any permits online?
The Building Occupancy Permit is posted on the first floor behind the Education Welcome Desk. Our building permit is posted on the front of the building facing Heatherdowns Blvd. as is required by law.
We have met with the City, and they acknowledge that they have all required submissions and inspections in hand from us.
What is the status of the air quality of the building?
We have been monitoring air quality regularly. Air quality monitoring will continue on a weekly basis and the results will be posted in the first floor entryway.
Why is TAPA moving locations?
Currently, TAPA’s many services, including music lessons, dance classes and youth orchestra rehearsals, occur on three different campuses across the greater Toledo region. Enrollment projections anticipate that TAPA will soon outgrow these facilities. The 56,000 sq. ft. former Masonic Temple will become the home for TAPA’s administrative offices and all its education offerings. This consolidation will provide a first-class facility for more than 650 music and dance students each week and create an ‘artistic hub’ for the community that supports future growth.
Will I need to re-enroll for classes or lessons at the new building?
No. Your active class or lessons enrollments carry over with no additional enrollments at the new location. Some class or lessons times may shift slightly beginning at the new building. Class locations in the new building may change as studios are completed, so please be on the lookout for those updates via email and class schedules.
What is the temporary operations plan for Toledo Ballet while additional studios are under construction?
Ballet classes will initially take place in TAPA Major, the Robert Bell Studio, Studio A1 and Studio A2. Please download the schedule here.
Please download a map here.
Sprung floors used at the former studios will be reconditioned, resurfaced, and reinstalled in two large studios on the second floor. It is anticipated that these facilities will come online in May 2025, at which time dance classes will depart the Robert Bell Studio.
Why does the TSYO get to wait until the fall, but Toledo Ballet has to move now?
It has always the plan to open the Toledo Center for Live Arts in phases, beginning with administration, then ballet and music school, and finally the youth orchestras program. We anticipate holding a Grand Opening in late summer or early fall.
The lease that TAPA holds for Toledo Ballet studios on Monroe is expiring. The rehearsal space that TAPA rents for TSYO will expire at the end of this academic year. The youth orchestra program will move to the Toledo Center for Live Arts over the summer.
Why can’t we stay in our existing facility?
The lease on our Monroe studios is expiring. While we considered extending the lease, it was not viable to do so. Materials from the Monroe studios are being repurposed in the new building, playing a key role in the construction timeline.
When will tradespeople and contractors be present in the building?
We understand that some parents have concerns about construction personnel being on-site during student activities. In response, we have adjusted our schedule so that no construction will take place in student areas while regular educational activities are in session.
What new systems and features have been installed to upgrade this facility?
A state-of-the-art, high-efficiency HVAC system with new chillers, boilers, and air handlers was installed in December. It includes MERV filters maintained and changed regularly according to best practices and industry standards.
New automated controls for temperature regulation and energy-efficient lighting will be coming online during the month of March.
A new fire safety system includes occupancy sensors, fire alarms, and high visibility exit signs throughout the building. It is integrated with a new camera monitoring system covering stairwells, the exterior perimeter, and teaching studios.
New energy efficient windows were installed on the second floor providing natural lighting to ballet studios.
Soundproofing has also been added to various studios and rehearsal spaces and four state-of-the-art Wenger SoundLok practice and recording studios have been installed on the first floor.
Additional bathrooms were installed on the first and second floor to comply with building codes. Water filtration systems and bottle filling stations are available throughout the facility.
Where is the new building located?
The address for the new building is 4747 Heatherdowns Blvd. Toledo, OH 43614. The entrance is located off of Cass Road. You will enter a set of double glass doors to a vestibule and then a second set of doors to the entrance corridor.
An information desk is located inside the second set of doors on your right. Staff will be stationed at this desk and on the second floor during teaching hours to assist you with wayfinding and any other questions you may have.
What is the pick-up and drop-off procedure?
Parents and guardians are welcome to accompany their students through the main entrance of the building facing Cass Road and to class during the first week. TSSM parents/guardians will continue to attend lessons as organized with your instructor.
Going forward, ballet students in level 4 and above may be dropped off curbside. Students in level 3 and below should always be accompanied by a parent or guardian into the building.
While students are in class, parents/guardians and family members may enjoy the amenities in the Bowe Family Commons on the first floor. Free wifi is available courtesy of Buckeye Broadband. Children who are not attending classes should be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times.
Students who are between classes should remain in designated student waiting areas.
Education staff will be located at the Cass Road Entrance and in the second floor lobby to assist with student and family needs.
Where can I park?
There is a large, newly paved parking lot off Cass Road for students, faculty, and family. A drop-off lane will also be designated. Please do not park at the rear of the building or on the Stranahan side of the building.
What are the operating hours of the building?
The official building hours for the Toledo Center for Live Arts are as follows:
Monday - Friday: 9am to 8pm
Saturday: 8am to 5pm
Sunday: 10am to 6pm
The Administrative Offices and Box Office are open Monday - Friday from 9am to 5pm.
At least two staff members will be present during educational activities in the building.
Can I access the building through The Stranahan?
No, there is no access between the Stranahan and our building.
Who can I reach out to if I am lost or have questions when I am at the building?
Please visit the first-floor information desk located in the entrance corridor. You may also call 419.471.0049 for assistance.
Where can I wait while my student is taking classes / lessons?
Thanks to a generous gift from Pat and MaryLouise Bowe, the Bowe Family Commons is located in the center of the building and is equipped with comfortable seating, conversation areas, tables, chairs, and wifi courtesy of Buckeye Broadband. We encourage families to socialize and enjoy this new space.
After the first week of class, we ask that families do not accompany their children to the second-floor teaching space but remain in the Bowe Family Commons. TSSM families are encouraged to attend lessons, which will primarily take place on the first floor.
Staff and faculty will always be present and supervising activities on the second floor at all times.
What amenities will be available in the new building?
The Bowe Family Commons will be equipped with lounge furniture, conversation areas, a play area, tables, chairs, and wifi.
Water filling stations are available on the first floor.
Food and beverage service as well as merchandise sales will be available in the building at a later date.
Will performances still take place at the Peristyle and Valentine?
This move does not impact our partnerships with these venues by any means. Toledo Symphony and Toledo Symphony Youth Orchestras performances will still primarily be held at the Toledo Museum of Art's Peristyle Theater, and additional performances will still take place at the Valentine Theatre and Stranahan Theater.
Will there be continuing construction when we start using the new building?
Yes. Construction of some parts of the 2nd floor will be continuing during our first months of occupying the new building. All construction will be quarantined from our active public spaces and will be optimized to occur when students are not in the building having classes.
Have Toledo Ballet's or TAPA's phone numbers changed?
No.
To reach the Box Office, please call 419.246.8000
To reach Toledo Ballet, please call 419.471.0049
To reach TSSM and TSYO, please call 419.418.0057
Will practice rooms and studios be available for individual practice?
Yes! Music students interested in reserving a Wenger Studio may see a staff member for assistance. Until more services are online, ballet students must be supervised by faculty anytime they are dancing in a TCLA studio space.
Who do I contact if I have questions about the new building?
Please reach out to Vanessa Gardner, Vice President & General Manager by calling 419.418.0053 or sending her an email.
Who is involved in this project?
Our partners for this project include:
Dave Ball, STS Management, Inc.
Signature Bank NA
Rossi Associates, LLC
JDRM Engineering, Inc.
Habitec Security
Eastman & Smith Ltd.
Northwest Ohio Building & Trades Council