Crump Theatre architect chosen, timeline set

An architectural firm has been chosen to develop plans to turn an aging downtown Columbus theater into the Crump Center for the Performing Arts.

According to Project Encore an initiative of Heritage Fund, the Bartholomew County Community Foundation, Indianapolis-based architecture and design firm DKGR has been selected to lead the design and planning efforts for the project. The goal is to turn the 136-year-old theater into a performing arts and community center with a 750-seat capacity.

The Crump Theatre is Indiana’s oldest surviving theater in operation.

Three finalist firms presented proposals to community stakeholders in August and DKGR was chosen from those presentations.

Steve Sanders, manager of Project Encore Manager said DKGR’s vision “aligns perfectly with the Crump’s next chapter—connecting our history to a thriving, creative future that attracts and retains talent, and stimulates our downtown economy.”

The Crump transformation has been identified as a near term catalyst site in the recently completed Columbus Downtown 2030 plan. The Crump’s role was also identified in the Envision Columbus plan and in a downtown Arts & Culture Feasibility Study last year.

The proposed timeline would call for DKGR to finish the design work this year, for the start of a capital campaign later this year, and for construction to start in the fall of 2026 with an opening of the Crump Center for the Performing Arts in 2028