The Confluence Arts Center is a publicly and privately sponsored development to replace the City of Eau Claire’s existing theatrical facilities with a state-of-the-art arts center. The revitalization of an abandoned industrial area aims to create a cultural center for the city and larger community at the confluence of the Chippewa and Eau Claire rivers. Comprising approximately 140,000 SF, the multi-level arts center will provide flexible rehearsal, teaching, and support spaces for a theater program, art gallery, recording studio, a 1,200-seat concert hall/theater, and a 400-seat theater.

OTIE engineers, managed by Paul Karow, PE, provided the structural design for the Center in collaboration with other engineers and architects.

“This was a complex project from a structural layout perspective. Several two-story spaces interspersed around the theater core, as well as cantilevered rooms, resulted in several column transfers and a challenging lateral bracing system. This building articulation will provide great visual interest to this beautiful river site.” – Paul Karow, PE, OTIE Project Manager and Structural Engineer

Construction on the site in downtown Eau Claire is underway, and the new Confluence Arts Center is scheduled to open in late summer 2018. See OTIE’s work in this construction video.

Visit communityfortheconfluence.org to learn more about the project and follow construction progress.

– photo credit: HMBA/Strang