First the foundation, soon the BARN

The Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network held an old-fashioned “barn raising” – a slab-pouring, anyway – and the community turned out to celebrate beneath sunny skies.

Visitors marveled at the massive concrete foundation for a 25,000-square-foot, 2-story facility due for completion in 2017.

The center will provide space for classes, workshops and open studios for fiber and glass artists, jewelry making, printing making and book arts, welding, woodworking and other crafts.

PHC is general contractor on this exciting project to provide a permanent home for the many fine craftspeople and artisans on Bainbridge Island.

Find out more about the BARN project at http://bainbridgebarn.org.

Photos by Douglas Crist

Building The BARN, a New Center for Craft and Invention

BARN’s planned facility will have well-equipped community workshops for traditional and 21^st century crafts, ranging from metalworking, fiber arts and cooking to building robots and using 3-D printers or laser cutters to make complex parts. There will be classes for all skill levels, as well as open studio time where people can learn informally from one another while working on personal and community service projects.

BARN’s future home will be full of natural light and a joy to use, thanks to the design created by Johnpaul Jones, an internationally renowned architect and PHC Construction. BARN bought the 2-acre site, off New Brooklyn Road near the Madison Avenue fire station on Bainbridge Island, in 2013. The property slopes, so the design calls for a two-story building with ground-floor access on each level.

View floorplans and learn more here.

Don't miss this ground breaking celebration on April 16th!