Everything in this project is in giant scale! That pit in the main hall is over seven feet deep and twenty feet in either direction! Nearly all of the historic steel mechanisms, piping, and conduit have been removed from the walls, columns, and ceiling. Some of it is being held off to… Read More »Everything about this project is BIG!
WaterFire takes hundreds of volunteers and a dedicated staff to make its events a reality. Though many already know this, fewer know how deep into the community WaterFire’s roots really go. WaterFire wouldn’t happen without a great many organizations and businesses from around the city donating, supporting, and otherwise helping… Read More »Volunteer Spotlight: Community Partners
This event is being sponsored by Dunkin’ Donuts [one_half] March 18th, 2016 – Slam Dunk WaterFire Event Info: Sunset: 6:56 p.m. Lighting time: 7:16 p.m. The fires will remain lit until 10:30 p.m. Music Program [/one_half] [one_half_last] [/one_half_last] Basin lightings include the circle of twenty-two braziers in the Waterplace Park Basin and the twelve braziers… Read More »March 18th, 2016 – Slam Dunk WaterFire
TRAC Builders is back in the WaterFire Arts Center! Electricians are wiring the building with temporary electrical lines before large-scale interior demolition takes place, as the old wiring, lighting, and legacy controls are removed. The large fluorescent lighting fixtures containing mercury will be carefully remediated. We also expect that our… Read More »Arts Center Recieves Temporary Power
WaterFire would be nothing without its volunteers, and within that enormous group of hard-working Rhode Islanders are those representing their place of employment. Along with student groups, families, and many dedicated individuals, corporate volunteers help bring the magic to the city of Providence. Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode… Read More »Volunteer Spotlight: Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island
The parking lots may not be the most glamorous element of the WaterFire Arts Center, but with nearly two dozen employees and WaterFire’s need to truck thousands of pounds of equipment two and from every event, they are absolutely vital. The paving of the West end of the building, which… Read More »Clear for Landing
In photos from early this week, you can see the progress that has been made in placing the Arts Center services beneath the ground. The oil and water separators for the wastewater collection system have been buried, the electrical has been laid in the trenches, and the new front parking… Read More »Construction – Phase 1, Week 6
Todd Brodeur, Superintendant with TRAC Builders, kindly agreed to give us a guided tour of the construction site last week, sharing with us an overview of the many tasks being accomplished as the building and the site at 475 Valley Street are prepared for renovation and construction.
Like everyone at WaterFire Providence, I am excited to see work progressing on The WaterFire Arts Center. But I am more energized by the new opportunities it provides for our organization. Yes, it will be many times more efficient to have all of our operations contained under one roof, and yes it will be nice to work in a properly finished office environment. But it is really the programming that will take place at 475 Valley Street that gets my fires stoked. It isn’t just me; all of WaterFire’s departments and staff are looking at new ways to engage the public, develop WaterFire as an event, and advance – as well as share – the art of creative placemaking.
Santa Claus – known as Ken Panciera on the off-season – will help bring the Christmas spirit to Providence during WaterFire’s Christmas Fire on December 18th. “As you get older, Christmas becomes more of a marketing type of thing – you lose the spirit as you get older. But I’m… Read More »Volunteer Spotlight: Santa Claus
