Pulaski Technical College Debuts $30M Center for Humanities and Arts

Pulaski Technical College celebrated the grand opening of its Center for Humanities and Arts on Feb. 2.

Pulaski Technical College in North Little Rock held a grand opening celebration Tuesday for its new $30 million, 90,000-SF Center for Humanities and Arts.

The Division of Humanities and Fine Arts is the college’s largest academic division, and most of its students will take courses in the new center. The building features a 500-seat performing arts theater, costume shop, a performance/dance studio, music rooms, a 1,250-SF art gallery and 17 classrooms.  

College President Margaret Ellibee said that before the center’s construction, drama students rehearsed and performed in an old garage that had been remade as a theater.

“We made do and gave the best possible education,” Ellibee said. “I want to tell you this project was easy, but it wasn’t. But this was necessary. This facility is a tool we will use to fulfill the promise of a better life for our students.”

Construction of the center was completed over the summer and students began attending classes in the space on Jan. 19. 

“We are thrilled that we have this beautiful, state-of-the-art facility where our students can learn and collaborate,” Ellibee said. “It will also be a tremendous resource for our community. We hope to be a regional gathering place for arts-related activities.”

The Windgate Charitable Foundation awarded the Pulaski Technical College Foundation a $1.5 million grant to furnish and equip the center and to establish an operations endowment. The grant is the college’s largest private cash donation in its history.

Jackson Brown Palculiet Architects of Little Rock was the lead architect and CDI Contractors of Little Rock was the lead construction company. Perkins + Will of Dallas, a specialist in theater design, consulted on the project. 

Grand opening events continue throughout the week:

• Feb. 3 – Windgate Gallery opening reception for “Merging Form and Surface: Robyn Horn and Sandra Sell,” 5-7:30 p.m.
• Feb. 4 – “Big Rock on the Map” reading by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Douglas Blackman, 6 p.m.
• Feb. 5 – Grammy Award-winning soul singer Mavis Staples concert, 7 p.m.