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Allen County edition ReAChing FoRt WAyne And SuRRounding CountieS
February 2026
Vol. 38, No. 10
NEW AMENITY — Anthony Lardydell, left, and Lynne Gilmore sit near the new drop-off area added to the Arts United Center. The new amenity is named after Lardydell.
FAMED ARCHITECT — The Arts United Center was designed by famed architect Louis Kahn and opened in 1973.
HISTORIC CENTER
gets user-friendly
MAKEOVER BY LINDA LIPP Feature Writer Many of the changes in the $40 million renovation of Fort Wayne’s Arts United Center are designed to go largely unnoticed. The historic building, designed by renowned modernist architect, Louis Kahn, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. That designation required that architecturally significant elements be preserved during renovation, said Rachelle Reinking, director of communications for Arts United. At the same time, the 50-year-old facility needed modern upgrades to prepare it for future generations of
performers and patrons. A major focus of the renovation was accessibility. The goal was to not only meet, but exceed, the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which did not exist when the building opened in 1973, Reinking said. “We wanted to make sure people felt welcomed and included as they participate, in whatever way they participate,” she said. The Arts United Center was originally envisioned as part of a 10-building downtown campus bringing together dance, theater, music and fine arts. Financial constraints ultimately reduced the project to a single building. Continued on page 3
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IMPROVE ACCESS — The stairs in the historic Arts United Center lobby are steep, so new elevators were added to improve access.
MORE SPACE — Another 17,500 square fee t of space was added during the renova tion. Photos provided by Arts United Center.