The Crump Center for the Performing Arts (CCPA) announced Monday that Indianapolis-based architecture and design firm DKGR has been selected to lead the design and planning of the historic Crump Theatre’s transformation into a modern, 750-seat performing arts and community venue.

The selection of DKGR follows a competitive Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process that attracted interest from regional and national firms specializing in historic renovation and adaptive reuse. Three finalist firms presented at the Crump in August to community stakeholders and feedback on each was collected. DKGR’s proven expertise in breathing new life into heritage structures—blending preservation with forward-thinking design—distinguished them as the clear choice for Columbus’s most ambitious cultural redevelopment in decades.

“DKGR has an impressive portfolio of award-winning adaptive reuse projects that honor the past while creating spaces for contemporary cultural and civic life,” said Steve Sanders, Project Encore manager. “Their 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’s revival has been identified as a near-term catalyst site in the recently published Columbus Downtown 2030 plan, underscoring its role in driving downtown vitality and regional cultural growth. This aligns with the Crump’s position within both the Envision Columbus (2019) and Arts & Culture Feasibility Study (2024) which collected community feedback and made similar recommendations to the Crump’s potential for our region.

“The emerging Encore project promises to breathe new life into the historic Crump Theatre — blending its timeless charm with modern capabilities. Once reopened, the Crump will reignite downtown Columbus as a vibrant destination, drawing regional audiences and energizing the city’s economic and cultural landscape,” noted the Columbus Indiana Downtown 2030 Leadership Team.

As planning continues, the Crump remains active with select programming and cultural partnerships. The Columbus Indiana Philharmonic has chosen the venue as a setting for its Harmony & Glow Candlelight Concert Series, bringing intimate, atmospheric performances to downtown Columbus.

“The Crump has incredible potential for events in the heart of downtown Columbus. With the right stewardship and renovations to the building, the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic could provide programming of many kinds. We are excited to follow this remarkable project,” said Isaac Selya, CIP music director.

Originally opened in 1889, the Crump Theatre is Indiana’s oldest surviving theater in operation and a cornerstone of downtown Columbus’s cultural identity. After decades of closure and volunteer-led preservation efforts, the Crump Center for the Performing Arts aims to reintroduce the venue in 2028 as a regional hub for performing arts, live entertainment, and civic gatherings, connecting Columbus’s architectural heritage with its future as a creative destination.

Design work with DKGR will advance through 2025, with capital campaign efforts set to launch in Q4 2025 and to be shovel-ready by the summer. The campaign aims to raise the balance of funds necessary to begin construction in early fall of 2026 as well as create an operating endowment to support the building and operations into the future.

The CCPA hosted its first public open house on May 29, inviting community feedback on early design ideas and introducing the organization’s newly formed board of directors, composed of leaders from the arts, education, business, and civic sectors.
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