Plans are progressing for what is now known as The Deeply Rooted Center for Black Dance and Creative Communities at 5339 South State Street in Washington Park. The brand new structure has been in the works for a few years and has now officially received building permits after partially securing funding back in 2023.
Site map of Deeply Rooted Dance Center via Google Maps
The structure will rise at the intersection with East 54th Street and serve as the new home for the Deeply Rooted Dance Company, which currently operates out of The Harris Theater downtown. The structure will sit across the street from the massive XS Tennis campus and adjacent to their upcoming hotel and residential development.
Rendering of Deeply Rooted Dance Center by Johnson & Lee Architects
The 33,270-square-foot structure will span three floors and is being designed by Johnson & Lee Architects. A central atrium will organize six dance studios, a black box theater, rehearsal spaces, set design shop, costume design shop, office and meeting spaces, resource center, and more for the local community. This will be capped by a rooftop garden.
Rendering of Deeply Rooted Dance Center by Johnson & Lee Architects
The building’s exterior will feature a large corner window wall along with a statement mural and textured concrete exterior wall panels. With permits in hand, the team can now proceed with building out the roughly $16 million center. Local general contractor Toro Construction has been brought onboard, with no timeline known at the moment.
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More Development on State Street is good! These big blocky buildings should do a good job blocking out highway noise. Hopefully more residential development follows. There are too many gaps in the urban fabric on state street. This isn’t the perfect development but it is something, and that something is far preferable to nothing.
This sounds like a wonderful addition to Washington Park. Congratulations!