Building the Woodlawn Center: Creating Space for Artivism
In early 2021, Red Clay Dance Company is in the process of building out its future Woodlawn Center, transforming a ground-floor commercial space into a dedicated home for dance, creative process, and community engagement on Chicago’s South Side.
The project involves a 3,900-square-foot commercial renovation within the Woodlawn Station development at 808 East 63rd Street. Plans for the space include two studios designed to support rehearsals and classes, equipped with Marley flooring and mirrors, along with dressing rooms and additional support areas intended for both company and community use.
Construction and planning are taking place during the COVID-19 pandemic, adding complexity to an already ambitious project. Even amid uncertainty across the arts sector, the buildout is moving forward with intention, guided by the belief that access to creative space remains essential for artists and communities.
Founder and Artistic Director Vershawn Sanders-Ward intentionally assembled a project team aligned with the values of equity, collaboration, and local investment. Design is led by Beehyyve, with construction management by CKL Engineers, LLC, and general contracting by D. Jones Construction, LLC. Many of the firms involved are locally owned and led by women of color, reflecting a commitment to ensuring that those creating the space share a connection to the communities it is meant to serve.
The buildout is supported in part by financing from IFF, which provided a tenant improvement loan to help make the renovation possible. Additional capital support has been secured through advocacy led by Illinois State Senator Robert Peters, underscoring the importance of public investment in sustaining arts and cultural infrastructure.
As construction continues, the Woodlawn Center is being shaped as more than a studio facility. It is envisioned as a community-embedded space where artistic practice, education, and gathering can coexist — a place where Artivism is not only performed, but practiced through the very act of building.
