By Shannon Mortland
Renovation in progress: Summit Artspace’s third-floor event space will soon welcome exhibitions, workshops, and community programs.
The building at 140 E. Market Street in downtown Akron has a storied past and, now undergoing a $1 million renovation, is poised to be part of the city’s future.
Built in 1927 as the home of the Akron Beacon Journal, the three-story building now houses Summit Artspace, which includes artist studios, creative businesses, and five art galleries. Its public programs aim to connect the community and local artists to create a thriving, diverse region. John S. and James L. Knight ran the daily newspaper from the building in the early part of the 20th century.
The 55,000-square-foot building, owned by Summit County, has housed many businesses in its nearly 99 years, so upgrades are needed, said Natalie Grieshammer Patrick, executive director of Summit Artspace. To accommodate construction, Summit Artspace closed in August, with a goal of reopening in early 2026. The renovations, funded by Summit County, the Akron Community Foundation and the GAR Foundation, are an important piece of the city’s creative ecosystem.
Grieshammer Patrick
“We have picked the most pressing updates needed throughout the building and we will address some improvements for safety and comfort,” she said. “For the artists we’re serving, it will be impactful.”
Passersby will see the changes through new front doors that complement the building’s original art deco design. Inside, new pathways will replace a “dead-end bank of studios,” better connecting spaces, Grieshammer Patrick said. Some of the building’s beauty and grandeur will also be uncovered, including a marble staircase and wood paneling that had been covered for years. “Many visitors did not realize they could use that staircase,” she added.
Surfaces will be refinished in event spaces, on the second-floor gallery and in stairwells. Ceilings will be replaced, LED overhead lighting added, and a new HVAC system installed to create a more comfortable environment for artists and a better climate for art. “It will be great for our artists to have a more polished space to exhibit their work,” Grieshammer Patrick said.
Most of Summit Artspace’s 30 resident artists must endure the temporary closure and displacement. While a few were able to remain, others found backup spaces. Robert Reza Greer Sr. is one of the artists who had to move his work out during construction. Having a creative space at home has not been ideal, but the improved Summit Artspace will be worth the wait, he said.
Robert Reza Greer Sr.
“As an artist, making the building more accessible means more people can enjoy the building and my art specifically,” Greer said. “The way the aesthetics are changing, they will be more inviting and they make me want to do more programming.”
Though his associate degree from Stark State College is in graphic arts, Greer expresses his creativity in many ways. He has a clothing line, writes poetry, practices photography and is a rapper. He will release a book next year. “People don’t buy art without understanding what it’s about,” Greer said. “(At Summit Artspace,) people can get to know me. They get a chance to feel my heart.”
Demolition in the second-floor Forum Gallery reveals the building’s original character as Summit Artspace restores and modernizes the historic 1927 structure.
Photos courtesy of Summit Artspace
Resident artists at Summit Artspace are from Summit and surrounding counties. They can reserve space for workshops, rent studio spaces, and connect with other artists for shared creativity.
In addition to serving as a creative hub for artists and the community, the building is a downtown staple amid Akron’s ongoing revitalization. The Akron Civic Theatre saw its historic lobby and entrance restored, an $8.5 million project that also added the Knight Stage and an outdoor deck connecting Main Street to locks three and four. Lock 3 Park underwent a $17 million transformation to add a performance pavilion, landscaping, and a stronger connection to the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail. Main Street received a $27 million boost to create a more walkable, tree-lined corridor that also improved transit and public art.
“When we talk about downtown Akron, revitalization is important,” said Grieshammer Patrick. “As a city, we’re on the precipice of something really great.”
She believes Summit Artspace is also positioned for many more years to come. “We grew a lot under the previous director (Heather Meeker). She helped us double our budget and define how we carry out our mission,” said Grieshammer Patrick, who previously served as the Artspace’s director of artist resources before succeeding Meeker in June.
Her goal is to double the budget again and ensure it directly benefits artists while developing revenue streams that pay them. Summit Artspace is currently raising $15,000 to help alleviate artists’ rent in the building. So far, they’ve raised about 70% of that goal, with a stretch goal of $20,000.
As construction continues, Grieshammer Patrick and her team are revisiting exhibitions and preparing for the spring reopening, while planning programming to attract multiple generations. She will continue professional development for artists and community art walks, a popular piece of downtown’s fabric for years.
“I am looking for new ways to activate the space,” she said. “I’m connecting with community members to develop a really clear vision for the next five to 10 years.”
The goal, Grieshammer Patrick said, is to honor the building’s role in downtown Akron’s history while creating a more updated space for local artists and the community.
“Local artists help to make our city home and help us define what it means to be human and living in a place like Akron,” she said.
