Spirit Square

Spirit Square, also called Spirit Square Center for the Arts, is located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Its McGlohon Theater in the former First Baptist Church on North Tryon Street, named for Loonis McGlohon, is now part of North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center.

Spirit Square opened in 1976 as an arts center offering dance, visual arts, theater and music.

In 1972, First Baptist Church announced it was selling its buildings on North Tryon Steet. In November 1974, Ferebee, Walters, and Associates said the cost of converting the old church into an arts center would be $1 million. In April 1975, a 100-member cultural arts committee asked Mecklenburg County commissioners to buy the buildings, which consultant Ralph Burgard said would improve the area. Commissioners voted to spend $335,000 to buy the buildings. A six-month study by Spirit Square Development Group, chaired by Alex McMillan, resulted in a plan to spend $300,000 to renovate the education building on Seventh Street, and $2.5 million on the sanctuary. On June 1, 1976, the property was leased to Spirit Square Arts Council Corp. for 25 years. County voters approved $2.5 million in bonds in April 1977. In January 1980 after a $200,000 grant from NCNB, the 800-seat theater was named NCNB Performance Place. Joel Grey performed at the black tie opening ceremony April 15, 1980. Knight Gallery opened in November 1983 with 2,900 square feet, the city's first nonprofit gallery for contemporary visual art.

In November 1985, the city gave Spirit Square $2.7 million for a renovation. As Spirit Square prepared to celebrate its 10th anniversary, a fund-raising campaign began in May 1986 for the rest of the $5.5 million expected cost. A $6.5 million renovation and 7,300-square-foot addition completed in 1990 gave the arts center the building that had been desired since it began, and a new entrance at 345 North College Street. Middleton McMillan architects had to use five buildings built between 1908 and 1980, some that were part of the church, and one which had been a printing plant. Ceiling heights and floor materials changed in the different buildings, making renovation challenging, and $400,000 had to be spent to remove asbestos after an estimate of only $75,000, due to incorrect plans. With changes in the interior design, the total space increased from 80,000 to 100,000 square feet. A carved rosette arch at the new entrance recalled J.M. McMichael, the architect of First Baptist. Stained glass from the church was taken out of storage and used to add character and recall history.

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