Crews break ground on new $1.2 million art studio in Vail
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Construction now is underway on the Vail Art Studio, located on the lower bench of Ford Park near the pedestrian bridge to Manor Vail.
The studio is intended to offer a year-round, ADA-accessible space for artists to flourish within Vail’s natural environment.
Located adjacent to the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, the art studio will overlook Gore Creek in Ford Park and will include a vaulted ceiling and 12-foot-high walls to allow for strategically placed windows providing natural light and uninterrupted wall space.
Within the 750-square-foot building, there will be an open working studio of approximately 450-square feet along with an entrance foyer, an ADA-accessible bathroom, and a storage area.
The building was designed by Harry Teague Architects in an effort to create a building that is both a working artist studio and a sculpture itself, integrated into the landscape of the park.
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The amenities and utilities will provide the necessary support, environment, and light for various art disciplines. Additional outdoor areas adjacent to the studio will be available for programming and workspace.
The project has been contemplated for over two decades, with the town at one point studying the feasibility of reconstructing an existing building known as the “art shack” in the area. A 2021 evaluation concluded that “the expense of working within and modifying an imperfect existing structure, with pretty much no useful components,” made it more economically sensible to build a new structure from scratch.
Following a competitive bid process, the town awarded a contract for the Vail Art Studio to MW Golden Constructors for approximately $1.2 million. The studio is anticipated to be completed by spring 2025. For more information, contact town of Vail Public Works Director Greg Hall at 970-479-2160 or at ghall@vail.gov.
