Huskers partner with Lincoln church to create community arts center

Liz McCue | University Communication and Marketing

Jean Stryker (left) shows Jessica Hernandez how to dip a stamp into paint for a printmaking activity at the Art Chapel on June 30. The Art Chapel is part of the church's community outreach, providing an accessible space for people to pursue creativity at no to low cost. Open studio time is available from 6 to 9 p.m. each Monday at the chapel.

Students in the University of Nebraska–Lincoln's College of Architecture have transformed a 150-year-old chapel at the F Street Neighborhood Church into a vibrant community arts center, drawing neighbors in for class, exhibitions and shared creative experiences.

The Art Chapel, at 1302 F St., is now open following a major renovation. Students from the university’s College of Architecture and its FACT and Plain Design-Build studios led by faculty Jeffrey L. Day and Jason Griffiths, respectively, designed and constructed the remodeled space. Other collaborators include Crounse Construction, Nebraska Innovation Studio and volunteers from the church.

“From a design standpoint, the goal was to produce a flexible environment that allows for different artistic expression, classes and gallery events,” said Day, professor of architecture and a fellow of the American Institute of Architects.

The exterior of the newly remodeled Art Chapel, located on the north side of the F Street Neighborhood Church. The 1873 structure served as one of Lincoln's earliest churches and has gone through several iterations before becoming a community creative space. The building was remodeled by a team of University of Nebraska–Lincoln architecture students, in partnership with local contractors and the church. — The exterior of the newly remodeled Art Chapel, located on the north side of the F Street Neighborhood Church. The 1873 structure served as one of Lincoln's earliest churches and has gone through several iterations before becoming a community creative space. The building was remodeled by a team of students from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln's College of Architecture, in partnership with local contractors and the church.

Students designed and installed new cabinetry and shelving and built tables that include outlets to plug in equipment like sewing machines and other tools. Most dramatically, they created a sliding wall that opens to create an indoor-outdoor space for events. The building, which is about 150 years old, is part of the F Street Neighborhood Church and was one of the first churches in Lincoln.

The project expands the success of the College of Architecture’s design build studios. Since 2001, the studios have worked with approximately 44 clients on nearly 50 projects, including built and unrealized works that have benefited communities in Nebraska and beyond.

Jean Stryker, resident artist at the F Street Neig borhood Church, said the goal was to offer a dedicated space to welcome in a broad range of people. Opening the rolling wall to the building’s deck, for example, allows the public to see into the building and hopefully encourages people to learn more about the activities.

“It’s a little gem for our neighborhood,” Stryker said. “Our vision is to have this be a place where people can come and find their creativity. People walking by can see what’s happening, so that’s an invitation to maybe get involved.”

The design of the sliding wall is inspired by the church and the way it invited the community to gather informally on steps around the building and in a nearby parking area.

“The rolling wall builds on this idea by allowing the entire building to be, at times, truly public,” said Griffiths.

Jean Stryker opens the large sliding door at the front of the Art Chapel closed. Designed by Nebraska architecture students, the door contains a smaller, Craftsman-style door that can be used in cold or inclement weather. It is designed to open the Art Chapel up and draw members of the public into the space. — Jean Stryker pushes the large sliding door at the front of the Art Chapel closed. Designed by students from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln's College of Architecture, the door contains a smaller, Craftsman-style door that can be used in cold or inclement weather. It is designed to open the Art Chapel up and draw members of the public into the space.

Having a dedicated space will allow the group to expand their activities. They’ve been working with CenterPointe, an addiction treatment center, to provide art activities for residents, and Stryker said they are now able to meet weekly rather than monthly.

“The kind of projects we could do with them were limited because they had to be able to finish them in one sitting,” she said. “Now, because we can meet with them weekly, we can do more sequential projects with them, which is great.”

In designing the renovation, Day, Griffiths and the students adopted the philosophy of “Make nothing.” This motivated them to keep design choices simple and unobtrusive, such as hiding outlets in the holes of a pegboard wall and installing nearly invisible window frames.

“We wanted it to be very subtle,” Day said. “The changes in the building, which are very significant, are things you don’t see immediately.”

Day and Griffiths tried to communicate to students the value of creating something restrained and how more dramatic changes might not always be the best choice.

“When the students understand the goals of the project, they understand sometimes making your work less visually bold is actually a stronger way to design a project,” Day said.

Stryker appreciated being able to collaborate and provide input to best meet the Art Chapel’s needs. The team adapted to regulatory and budgetary considerations well while also designing a building that worked as a creative and artistic space, she said. The Art Chapel renovation was funded by private donations and a Lincoln Community Foundation grant.

“I really loved working with the students, seeing their incredible energy and creativity and how willing they were to be stretched by the process,” she said. “They also did a terrific job of being creative with our budget.”

Jean Stryker, resident artist at the F Street Neighborhood Church, speaks with Paul Strommen, district 47 senator, outside of the Art Chapel on June 30. Remodeling the 1873 chapel was achieved through a partnership between the church, a team of students from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln's College of Architecture and local contractors.
Liz McCue | University Communication and Marketing
A large sliding door at the front of the Art Chapel opens the facility to light and to the community at F and 13th streets. The remodeling of the 1873 chapel was completed through a partnership between the F Street Neighborhood Church, a team of students from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln's College of Architecture and local contractors.
The exterior of the newly remodeled Art Chapel, located on the north side of the F Street Neighborhood Church. The 1873 structure served as one of Lincoln's earliest churches and has gone through several iterations before becoming a community creative space. The building was remodeled by a team of students from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln's College of Architecture, in partnership with local contractors and the church.
An 1873 chapel served as the base of the remodeled Art Chapel, and the original structure can be seen in the darker wood floorboards and exposed roof frame. Each part of the building, from a large sliding entrance to the moveable tables, was designed and built by University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Architecture students to help make the space open, inviting and adaptable.
The exterior of the newly remodeled Art Chapel, located on the north side of the F Street Neighborhood Church. The 1873 structure served as one of Lincoln's earliest churches and has gone through several iterations before becoming a community creative space. The building was remodeled by a team of students from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln's College of Architecture, in partnership with local contractors and the church.

Stryker was also impressed at watching the team work together to arrive at new or better ways to accomplish an idea. She witnessed the students and faculty make proposals and then bounce ideas off each other to improve it.

“It was interesting to watch the questioning aspect of it and how that made the students think about how they could raise the bar on their design or consider an aspect they hadn’t thought about,” Stryker said.

The project embodies the mission of a land-grant university to serve, Griffiths said.

“We also aim to teach students that, as part of a land-grant university, we can have a positive impact on the Nebraska communities we serve,” Griffiths said.

The project also gave students practical experience in working with a client. Day said this can teach them more about both listening and learning about a client’s needs and bringing the idea to life, as well as about technical processes like permitting, budgeting and identifying the right materials to use.

“When you build a real thing, you have to get down to the nuts and bolts very literally,” Day said.

The Art Chapel hosts weekly open studios and a knitting group and during the summer is hosting art classes on Saturdays. They have started participating in First Fridays, displaying the work of a member of the church or artist from the neighborhood and are holding worship nights with live music. They are also holding a family camp that engages the entire family in creative activities together. In the future, Stryker would like to offer more advanced instruction in media like oil painting. Stryker said she is excited about the opportunity the new space offers to expand arts programming for their community.

“What we want to offer to the neighborhood is a place where a person can come and feel at home,” she said. “We can offer space for people to be creative and support. We would love for this to be a place for folks to be welcomed and have a community of friends here.”