Wednesday, October 11, 2017
The Kent State Cit y Kent State University’s City Center: Continuing
Cent er is c herished the tradition of quality education in Salem
T o the Salem Community: I realize that this
facility is one of Salem’s most cherished
spaces. When I think about the City Center, I think
about the many “aha” learning moments, panicked
exams, close wins, or even first dates that occurred
in these hallowed hallways as thousands of stu-
dents survived both the exhilarating and challeng-
ing moments associated with high school and mid-
dle school.
Memories live on in spaces like this. Memories
that helped to make many of these former students
the individuals they are today. This is not just an
old building. The Kent State City Center is a cher-
ished palace that helped to create identities, shape
DAVID M. DEES
futures and open doors of promise for thousands of
Ph.D., Dean and Chief
Salem citizens.
Administrative Officer
Although Kent State’s involvement with this
Kent State University’s
cherished facility has been a short blip on the map
Columbiana County
of its existence, we have been very proud to be
Campuses
associated with this space. In 2005, the Salem City
Schools, in an effort to be more efficient with tax
payer monies, began looking for help in supporting this facility. Classic build-
ings such as this require dedication and care. To that end, the school started
looking for partners to help with this issue. In 2006, Kent State University
purchased the building for $50,000 and began the renovation process to
upgrade the space.
Although there was no extreme need for the extra space at the time, the
university has always been committed to being a good community partner in
developing a shared educational vision. Eleven years later, having invested
multiple thousands of dollars, we have now upgraded the
network/phone/internet/Wifi capabilities, employed bathroom renovations,
added carpeting, revitalized the flooring, updated the boiler, and renovated
multiple elements of the auditorium.
This building now hosts five different renters including everything from
the Hannah E. Mullins School of Practical Nursing to the Columbiana County
Educational Service Center’s transition class. Additionally, the university does
offer some college classes in this facility. All of this was accomplished in an
effort to keep the 100 years of educational history alive and well in this space.
Over the next several months, there will be other activities to celebrate this
building as part of Salem’s history. We hope you can find time in your busy
schedule to attend all of them.
Additionally, in the upcoming weeks, you will be hearing more about the
next 100 years of this space. As Kent State University plans our own future,
we want to know what the community sees as the future of this facility. Does
it remain an educational hub? Does it need to be re-tooled and refocused?
Could it serve other community needs and services?
Soon, we will be asking community members to join us in answering these
and other questions.
At the Kent State University Salem Campus we are proud to be part of this
community and share in its exciting history. The City Center building is just
one shining example of how we always want to contribute to making our
community a better place in which to live. Looking forward, we hope that this
space and this university can continue to provide opportunities to advance the
well-being and growth of this part of Northeast Ohio.
Century of Education 3
In 2006, Kent State University became the keeper
of the keys for the building at 230 N. Lincoln Ave.,
making it part of the Salem Campus. Because of its
location, it was fitting that the building became
known as the City Center.
The building and surrounding acreage was pur-
chased from the Salem Board of Education for
$50,000 and its appraised value at the time was
$240,000. The three-story building included 32
classrooms, office areas, a library, restrooms and
parking, as well as an auditorium and small gymnasi-
um.
Immediately after purchasing the building, Kent
State University invested additional funds to provide
upgrades to the fire alarm system, lighting in all
classrooms, stage lighting in the auditorium, renova-
tions to the restrooms, painting, carpeting, boiler
updates and asbestos abatement.
Despite the many upgrades, the building still
boasts its massive walls, staircases and lockers, as
well as the charm of the wooden floors, storage units,
doors and trim work.
Upgrades for technology were needed immediate-
ly after the purchase and included new wiring and
network systems to support telephone, internet and
Wifi service in the building.
The auditorium features a stage and seating for
about 750 guests, including a balcony area. While
some of the older auditorium seats remain in the
room, Kent State did install several new seats to
replace those that were worn and broken.
The auditorium has been used to host numerous
concerts, graduation ceremonies, lectures, drama pro-
ductions and other community events. The Kent
State Salem Communiversity Choir performs each Frank Fife, who recently retired after serv-
semester in the auditorium, often with local musi- ing as the maintenance employee at the
cians accompanying them. City Center, was hugely responsible for
The gymnasium features a suspended running Kent State Salem's City Center receiving
track, locker rooms and coaching rooms. It has been the Sunflower Award from the Salem Beau-
used by youth sports organizations and for various tification Committee through the Salem
exercise classes. Chamber of Commerce for several years.
While Kent State does schedule some classes in The award is given based on the upkeep of
the building, the need for advanced technology often the building, including clean windows,
limits the type of course that can be taught in the City neatly maintained entryways and side-
Center. walks, as well as an aesthetically-pleasing
The library is often used as a meeting space for facade.
local organizations and serves as a practice room for
the Communiversity Choir. The Kent State Salem outside.
Advisory Board also holds its regular meetings in the “I’ll admit: it was like my baby,” he said. “It need-
library. ed a lot of care and attention, but it was worth it. I
Salem resident Frank Fife recently retired after 11 met a lot of people who used this building for one
years as the maintenance employee at the City Cen- thing or another and everyone was always so nice. It
ter. He started working there within months of the was the best job I ever had!”
university purchasing the building and he took great
pride in maintaining every corner of it — inside and See KENT STATE, PAGE 7