AURORA | It may not quite be 100 years old, but Bicentennial Art Center is old enough for the record books.
The building, located at 13655 E. Alameda Parkway, was named a historical landmark by Aurora City Council members for its significance and its “Art Moderne” architectural style that became popular in the 1930s.
The Bicentennial Art Center was built in 1938 and was originally a radar transmission station for Lowry Air Force Base where officials coordinated military air traffic, said Jim Bertolini, the city’s historic preservation assistant.
The building’s “space-age” feel is unique, Bertolini said, and features common elements of the Art Moderne architectural style including a flat roof, rounded corners and speed lines.
The city purchased the 1,640 square foot building in 1971. In 1978, city officials celebrated the opening of its first community art center with a two-day festival that featured belly dancers, folk dancers, violinists, pianists, authors and poets, according to city documents.
Over the years, the Bicentennial Art Center has been used by the city for art and dance classes. The building is currently being used for pottery classes, and it now joins other local historic landmarks in Aurora, which include the Centennial House, built in 1890, and the Melvin School, built in 1922.
Historic landmarks are important for the city, Bertolini said.
“It’s a marker of how much a city cares for its historic resources … and a way of promoting the culture of a particular community,” he said.
Elizabeth Watson, a 15-year member of the city’s Historic Preservation Commission said she’s glad to see another building added to the list of historic landmarks.
“I think it’s what really helps make a city,” said Watson, who received the 2013 Elizabeth Johnson Award for Historic Preservation at the May 4 Bicentennial Art Center dedication ceremony. “It keeps its heritage.”
Reach reporter Sara Castellanos at 720-449-9036 or sara@aurorasentinel.com.