Brewery Arts Center's nearly 160-year-old brick exterior is getting a facelift
Submitted by Kelsey Penrose on Fri, 06/16/2023 - 11:34am
The Brewery Art Center is getting a major facelift.
According to Director of Operations Mikey Wiecek, the main building known as the Brewery Building was built in 1864, and recently received a historic preservation grant to restore and repair the exterior walls at a cost of over $300,000.
The east side of the building had the same upgrade in 2010, and now the rest of the building will follow.
The same contractor who updated the east side of the building, Abstract Masonry out of Utah, will be completing this phase of the project as well.
“The contractor is working closely with the Carson City Public Works Environmental Control Authority, as well as the State Division of Environmental Protection to ensure the work is being done safely, and any waste from the removed paint and mortar is handled accordingly,” Wiencek said.
The project is being funded in part by the State of Nevada Commission for Cultural Centers and Historic Preservation.
“(This project is) celebrating one of the oldest and most culturally significant buildings in Carson City, and the work is starting just as the summer concert series begins on the campus,” Wiencek said.
Three sides of the building will be covered in scaffolding and plastic to contain any particles as they are removed from the brick.
The building is a Carson City staple, and holds a lot of history. It began in 1860 by John Wagner who started the brewery during the Gold Rush to quench the thirst of miners and prospectors. In 1900, the brewery was sold and in 1910, the famous Tahoe Beer hit the market.
The Brewery became the longest-running brewery in the state of Nevada, and one of the silver state’s oldest businesses. Operations ceased in 1948, and became home to the Nevada Appeal. The building was purchased by a group of artists in 1975 to create a community gathering space for artists.
To learn more about the BAC, please visit https://www.breweryarts.org/
