Bethlehem, Lehigh Valley, PA, September 21, 2026 – ArtsQuest today announced the second major construction milestone in the revitalization of the historic Lehigh Valley Health Network, part of Jefferson Health Turn & Grind Shop, bringing together elected officials, community leaders, project partners, donors and supporters for a ceremonial beam signing at SteelStacks. The 155-year-old former Bethlehem Steel industrial building is being transformed into a dynamic, multi-purpose venue for arts and cultural programming, festivals, exhibitions, private and corporate events, hospitality and community gatherings.
The milestone comes as ArtsQuest also celebrates a new investment in the project through Pennsylvania’s Statewide Local Share Account (LSA) grant program. Approved by the Commonwealth Financing Authority, the LSA funding was made possible with the support of State Rep. Steve Samuelson and State Sen. Lisa Boscola.
During Friday’s event, six speakers including ArtsQuest President & CEO Kassie Hilgert and Chief Operating Officer Curt Mosel, Pennsylvania Secretary of Revenue Patrick Browne, Northampton County Executive Tara Zrinski, Laura Collins of the City of Bethlehem and Mayor J. William Reynolds office and Bob Begliomini, Executive Director of Jefferson Health-Lehigh Valley Region addressed attendees before guests signed a beam representing the next phase of the building’s construction.
“When we gathered here for the brick breaking in May, we talked about the remarkable history of this building and the future we envisioned for it. Today, we can see that future taking shape around us,” said Kassie Hilgert, President & CEO of ArtsQuest. “What makes this project so special is that we aren’t erasing the Turn & Grind Shop’s past to create something new. We’re preserving the steel, masonry, cranes and other elements that tell its story while preparing the building for an entirely new generation of concerts, festivals, exhibitions and community experiences. The LSA grant is another important investment in that future, and we are incredibly grateful to State Rep. Steve Samuelson and State Sen. Lisa Boscola for their support in helping make this funding possible. This beam signing brings us another exciting step closer to opening those doors next summer.”
Preserving the Past While Building for the Future
Built in the 1860s, the Turn & Grind Shop was part of Bethlehem Steel’s industrial operations and remains one of the physical links to the site’s manufacturing history. Today, the project team is carefully balancing preservation of that legacy with the infrastructure necessary to transform the building into a modern public venue with programming throughout the year.
As work has progressed, the project has revealed pieces of the building’s past that had been hidden for decades. Initial investigations uncovered evidence of former rail infrastructure beneath the existing floor, including portions of rail and an industrial cart believed to have been used in steelmaking or material handling.
Rather than treating those discoveries simply as obstacles to construction, Boyle Construction, ArtsQuest and the project team have looked for opportunities to retain historic elements that can safely contribute to the story and character of the completed venue.
That preservation extends throughout the building. One hundred percent of the primary structural steel is being retained, along with all three original overhead crane rails. Two original movable overhead cranes will remain as feature elements, while approximately 80 percent of the steel structure will remain visible to visitors.
Existing stone and brick masonry is also being retained and restored where practical, while MKSD Architects has designed new architectural interventions to complement rather than compete with the historic structure.
“Every phase of this project requires us to balance the needs of a modern venue with the responsibility of working within a structure that has stood for more than 150 years,” said Sean Boyle, President of Boyle Construction. “From uncovering remnants of the building’s industrial past beneath the floor to preserving its original steel, masonry and overhead cranes, we’ve approached each challenge by asking what can be safely retained and how it can become part of the building’s next chapter. The result is a project where the history isn’t hidden—it remains an integral part of what visitors will experience.”
Engineering a New Life for a Historic Structure
Transforming a building constructed more than a century and a half ago for industrial use into a modern public venue has required innovative design and construction solutions.
While the original structure remains stable, it was not designed to support the additional loads associated with contemporary mechanical and electrical systems, fire sprinklers, lighting, event rigging and other infrastructure necessary for the building’s future use.
To address that challenge, the project team developed a “structure within a structure” approach, introducing new independent steel systems to support modern building and event infrastructure without placing those additional loads on the historic steel frame or masonry.
The design also preserves character-defining elements including the building’s masonry walls, exposed structural steel, clerestory roof monitors and existing gantry cranes, allowing future visitors to experience the scale and industrial authenticity of the former Bethlehem Steel facility.
Beyond preserving the Turn & Grind Shop’s industrial legacy, the project is also creating a new kind of gathering place—one built around the idea that arts, creativity and shared cultural experiences can contribute to individual and community wellbeing.
That connection between arts and wellness is a broader theme of ArtsQuest’s Re-Imagine That! Capital Campaign and reflects a shared belief that healthy communities are strengthened by opportunities for people to gather, connect and experience the arts together. Through its partnership with Lehigh Valley Health Network, part of Jefferson Health, ArtsQuest is exploring how that connection can become part of the Turn & Grind Shop’s future story as the building prepares to welcome the community in 2027.
“At LVHN, part of Jefferson Health, we know that strong, healthy communities are built through connection—and places that bring people together play an important role in creating that sense of belonging,” said Bob Begliomini, Executive Vice President of Jefferson Health- Lehigh Valley Region. “The Turn & Grind Shop will give people across the Lehigh Valley new opportunities to gather, experience the arts, celebrate and connect with one another. We’re proud to partner with ArtsQuest on the next chapter of this historic building and excited to see the experiences and memories that will be created here for generations to come.”
Another Milestone in the Re-Imagine! That Capital Campaign
The Turn & Grind Shop is a cornerstone of ArtsQuest’s Re-Imagine That! Capital Campaign, alongside the ArtsQuest Creative Factory powered by PPL. Together, the projects represent more than $80 million in investment in public arts infrastructure across Bethlehem’s SouthSide Arts District.
As part of the campaign, the Turn & Grind Shop will also permanently recognize the individuals, families, corporations and organizations whose generosity is helping bring the historic building back to life. An exterior donor wall at the building’s entrance will recognize campaign supporters, while an interior donor wall will pay tribute to Bethlehem’s steelmaking heritage through distinctive hard hat and hammer recognition opportunities inspired by the generations of workers who helped shape the community.
The interior recognition opportunities include hard hats and limited hammer tributes at varying levels of support, creating a lasting connection between the people who built Bethlehem’s industrial legacy and the donors helping write the Turn & Grind Shop’s next chapter
Once complete, the Turn & Grind Shop will expand ArtsQuest’s capacity to host concerts, exhibitions, community events, private and corporate gatherings and hospitality experiences while providing additional infrastructure for signature festivals including Musikfest, Christkindlmarkt and Oktoberfest.
The venue will also feature a full-service kitchen and backstage support spaces to better serve performers, guests and events.
Friday’s beam signing represents the second of three major milestones in the building’s transformation following its brick breaking in May and anticipated opening in summer 2027.
Following the speakers, attendees were invited to sign the ceremonial beam, leaving their names and messages on a piece of the building as the project moves toward completion.
About ArtsQuest
ArtsQuest’s mission is to provide access to exceptional artistic, cultural and educational experiences, using arts and culture as drivers of economic development in our urban communities. ArtsQuest supports this mission through performing and visual arts, film, arts education and outreach, youth programming and a wide range of cultural events, anchored by signature venues and initiatives including its flagship event, Musikfest; the ArtsQuest Creative Factory powered by PPL, a centerpiece for the Valley’s artistic communities; the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks; and the LVHN, part of Jefferson Health Turn & Grind Shop, an adaptive reuse project expanding space for programming, festivals, private events and nationally touring exhibits. ArtsQuest welcomes more than 2 million people annually, with nearly 40 percent of its programs free to attend, generating a regional economic impact of close to $193 million in 2025. ArtsQuest’s Re-Imagine That! Capital Campaign supports the continued growth of its mission to make the arts accessible for all.