Enjoy this little scrapbook
of the Baum School
of Art's construction
& expansion April 2025 thru early March 2026 and school re-opening to students late March 2026!
View the evolution of the
Baum School's expanding canvas!
SCROLL DOWN to see images of the school's new and improved interior during a trustee tour 4/8/26.
Following are all the images (some of you may have seen before) of all the updates to the school's exterior and interior areas May 2025 to Fall 2025.
Access to the school during Jan/Feb 2026 were limited due to the construction activity happening indoors.
Following are all the images (some of you may have seen before) of all the updates to the school's exterior and interior areas May 2025 to Fall 2025.
Access to the school during Jan/Feb 2026 were limited due to the construction activity happening indoors.
Welcome Back! New entry way for a new century!
Refreshed Lobby & Reception Area (no more columns!)
Grand Staircase
Fowler Community Room & Gallery renovation (now 1 big room instead of 2!)
Rodale Gallery (temp storage until completed)
New Gallery (near 5th St Entrance)
Ceramics Studio - expanded and modernized!
Watercolor Studio - new space 2nd fl
Kids's Classroom refreshed- 2nd fl - new feature: kiddie sinks!
Makers Space - Crafts & 3d Printing - 2nd fl - still in progress
Hallway-2nd FL (walls are also gallery space for kids' art)
2nd floor lobby - cool puppy-dog bench!
Live Drawing Studio - 2nd FL new wing
Jewelry/Metalworking Studio - Refreshed! - 2nd fl
Cartoon Drawing Classroom - refreshed - 2nd FL
Graphic Design Studio-updated -2nd floor
Fashion Studies - resized/refreshed - 3rd fl
Drawing Classroom 3rd floor
Students' artistic toasts to Walter and Eddie
See ya'll soon!
Now that the school is open (even with a few final modifications/upgrades still happening) stop by anytime to see it for yourself.
Looking forward to seeing you at the upcoming 41st Annual Art Auction premiere party May 16th 2026 (or tune in online as the auction itself is online 5/16 thru 5/23):
https://www.baumschool.org/art-auction-2026
And at the 100th Birthday Party - is Saturday October 17, 2026!! Details forthcoming!
Looking forward to seeing you at the upcoming 41st Annual Art Auction premiere party May 16th 2026 (or tune in online as the auction itself is online 5/16 thru 5/23):
https://www.baumschool.org/art-auction-2026
And at the 100th Birthday Party - is Saturday October 17, 2026!! Details forthcoming!
April 2025-
it began!
it began!
Around the 28th of April 2025 the pre-work began: setting up construction fencing and building a "sarcophagus" wooden structure around the the DaVinci Horse.
4/28/25: Getting Ready!
May 2025
The ground breaking! On May 15th, school staff, faculty, trustees, sutdents, city/state leaders, the media, members of the community and the construction team met with shovels in hand and hard hats donned - all to celebrate the beginning of this amazing construction project to give the school more classroom & gallery space as well as other necessary improvements/modernization needs.
May 15, 2025: The Groundbreaking!
Late May & June 2025
Below are images from the contruction team (Northstar) on 5/30 using a crane to position steel beams and on 6/6 pouring flooring for the side egress/patio as wll as prepping the new 2nd floor above the administrative offices.
I stopped by 6/15 i to see for myself the framing progress of the new wing (next to the DaVinci Horse).
I stopped by 6/15 i to see for myself the framing progress of the new wing (next to the DaVinci Horse).
5/30/25: setting columns & beams
6/6/25: flooring, patio/egress foundation & 2nd floor prep
6/15/25: framing of the new wing
July
By mid-July, the new wing and the new 2nd floor space above the administrative offices were enclosed!
Sky blue insulation material applied and then based on the design plans, that material is being covered with brick or stucco type material. The side patio/egress area was completed allowing a small crane/lift to work back and forth between the corner of the new wing (by the horse) all the way back to the rear parking lot.
The profile of the school has dramatically changed too! From the far side of the Arts Park, you can see the new wing and the new 2nd floor emerging above the tree line!
Sky blue insulation material applied and then based on the design plans, that material is being covered with brick or stucco type material. The side patio/egress area was completed allowing a small crane/lift to work back and forth between the corner of the new wing (by the horse) all the way back to the rear parking lot.
The profile of the school has dramatically changed too! From the far side of the Arts Park, you can see the new wing and the new 2nd floor emerging above the tree line!
July 18, 2025
August
By mid-August, much of the building's exteior was being finished and detail work was in progress (windows!), the rear entrance of the school, as well as internal construction work (not shown here).
Included additional views from the far side of the Arts Park as this project crests the trees!
Included additional views from the far side of the Arts Park as this project crests the trees!
August 10, 2025
August 27, 2025: interior preview!
Below are images of the school's construction status as of Wednesday August 27th - from the interior!
Yes, we were able to walk thru and tour all the work being done inside for the new wing, new 2nd floor, and revitalized 5th street entrance. And you can see here the horse is out enjoying summer sunshine, too!
SCROLL DOWN to see images of each floor and wings expansion as of 8/27 followed by images of updates to the school's exterior. Check out the views from the classrooms too - lots of new natural light and views of the Art Museum and downtown Allentown, too!
Yes, we were able to walk thru and tour all the work being done inside for the new wing, new 2nd floor, and revitalized 5th street entrance. And you can see here the horse is out enjoying summer sunshine, too!
SCROLL DOWN to see images of each floor and wings expansion as of 8/27 followed by images of updates to the school's exterior. Check out the views from the classrooms too - lots of new natural light and views of the Art Museum and downtown Allentown, too!
Second Floor: New Wing (facing the Arts Park, opposite of Art Museum)- 8/25/25
New 2ndFloor class-studio (above offices/overlooking grand staircase) - 8/25/25
Second Floor: New Wing (facing the Arts Park, opposite of Art Museum) - 8/25/25
Third Floor: New Wing (above 2nd Fl Wing & opposite museum) - 8/25/25
1st Fl: New 5th St entrance to New Gallery on (from reception desk walking to 5th St) - 8/25/25
Exterior-5th St View (horse across from new wing (2nd/3rd floors) -8/25/25
Ext Rear Entrance & Side View (see tan section above crane, that's new 2nd fl studio) - 8/25/25
Fall 2025 status
The building's revitalized exterior revealed!! As of October 4th - no construction rigs, cranes or bulldozers!
Scroll down to view the school as viewed from the corner of 5th & Linden.
Included are views from the 5th St side, the Linden St side, the Arts Park (DaVinci Horse) side and from the rear entrance/parking lot behind the building!
WOW!
Scroll down to view the school as viewed from the corner of 5th & Linden.
Included are views from the 5th St side, the Linden St side, the Arts Park (DaVinci Horse) side and from the rear entrance/parking lot behind the building!
WOW!
10/4/25 views: 5th&Linden;looking down Linden;3 views from front;2 views by horse; 3 views rear lot
Baum School construction - In the News (2025)
9/12/2025
Bigger and better Baum School prepares to show off expansion
9/12/25 article from Channel 69 WFMZ news!
Read More5/12/2025
Centennial Project: The Baum School of Art begins its Allentown building expansion
Article from local paper LV Press!
Read More4/28/2025
Bursting at the seams, Baum school begins major expansion project
Article from local news Channel 69 WFMZ
Read More