Architect selected for new N. Westchester arts center

Real Estate Weekly, May 4, 1994

The future home of the Northern Westchester Center for the Arts is one more step closer to becoming reality with the selection of an architectural firm. The announcement was made by Pamela Levine, member of the NWCA Board of Directors.

Michael DeCandia, with offices in Katonah and Manhattan, has been named to refurbish and redesign the Center's new home at 272 North Bedford Road in Mt. Kisco - a 50,000 square-foot facility that formerly housed the Patent Trader newspaper, which NWCA acquired at auction this past December.

The new facility, slated to open this Fall, will permit NWCA to significantly expand its existing role as an important cultural hub for tri-state artists and residents.

The award-winning DeCandia has a broad architectural background with extensive experience in the design of theaters, educational facilities, and public spaces. He and members of his team have worked on projects which include Lincoln Center, several New York City theaters, and a memorial and education center at the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery.

According to Levine, the NWCA Building Committee performed an extensive search to arrive at DeCandia's firm. Fifteen architectural firms originally were asked to submit proposals. The list was then narrowed to five firms, at which point several personal interviews were conducted with the committee.

The Center, currently based in Coldens Bridge, has been plagued by a space crunch during the last six years, and the staff and students are eager to spread out in the new space, although the first phase of the renovation will be more "nuts and bolts" than glamour.

"As contributions come in from the community, we will move into the more artistic part of the renovation, including a community theater," Levine said.