Morris breaks ground on new addition Tuesday morning

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- A large group of legislators, council members, and members of the public gathered outside of the Morris Performing Arts Center on Tuesday morning as officials broke ground on the newest addition to the building, the Raclin Murphy Encore Center.

Officials say this is the second phase of the 'Morris 100 project' with the first phase being major renovations to the interior of the current building, followed by this new addition.

“As the largest capital campaign and investment into our beloved Morris Performing Arts Center, the Morris 100 project marks an exciting milestone for our city,” South Bend Mayor James Mueller said. “The addition of the Raclin Murphy Encore Center will enrich the arts in our community and provide a new vibrant space for generations to come. I am grateful to our partners, community leaders, philanthropists, and state officials for dreaming big and working together to provide the necessary resources to make this dream a reality.”

The new center is planned to be a 20,000-square-foot expansion of the Morris, situated between the Morris and the LaSalle Apartments.

Officials say the new building will provide additional lobby space and include:

• Additional support of existing events with restrooms, pre-function space, and better circulation
• Space for additional events like weddings, meetings, classes, specialty events
• Support and spaces for the Equity in the Arts program through Venues Parks & Arts

"The Board of Public Works awarded Phase 2 of the construction project to Larson-Danielson Construction for $15,202,000 following a public bidding process," South Bend officials said. "The total project cost is $16.7 million, funded through private donations and the READI 1.0 grant."

The desire to renovate and expand on the Morris culminated in 2020 when a group of city representatives and volunteers got together to begin the Morris 100 project which aims to raise $30 million. 

The project, known to some as "The Neverending Encore," consists of three total phases:

• Phase 1: Cost $10M, was completed in September 2022, and included renovations for new seating, carpeting, roofing, repainted handrails, boiler and pump replacements, HVAC, LED lighting, and new fire alarm system.
• Phase 2: Currently underway and is expected to take about 16 months to complete. Shows and other events will continue to take place at the Morris during the construction.
• Phase 3: Construction of an attached garage and is expected to begin in 2026.

“Today, we ignite a new chapter for our city’s arts scene,” said Executive Director of Venues Parks & Arts, Jordan Gathers. “This expansion will transform the Morris Performing Arts Center, improving visitor experience, with enhanced amenities, and supporting a broader range of events and programming. We thank all our donors and allies, whose contributions drive our vision and mission forward. Together, we are committed to making the Morris a beacon of cultural excellence for the next 100 years.”