WITH THE SELBY GALLERY BARELY IN THE REARVIEW,Ringling College of Art and Design drives off with eyes on the horizon, where various campus projects begin to take form and promise a campus and college transformed. And while the Sarasota Museum of Art will raise the institution’s public profile and the imminent Alfred R. Goldstein Library will doubtless affect students’ studies, it’s the Basch Visual Arts Center (BVAC) that’s looking ready to usher in a new age of Ringling.

Rising in the heart of campus, current plans boast six classrooms and a replacement gallery space attached to facilities dedicated to working in a variety of media, many previously underserved at the college. “It’s going to have a huge impact,” says Ringling Vice President for Academic Affairs Jeff Bellantoni, “for students we have now and also a demographic that we have yet to attract.” In addition to the creation of both hot and cold shops for glasswork, BVAC will provide the space, tools and technology for students working in ceramics, wood sculpture, photography, print-making and cutting-edge digital fabrication such as 3D printing and laser-cutting. “Bringing ideas to form is going to take on new meaning for our students because they’re going to have new media to explore,” says Bellantoni, noting that new programs in product, apparel and accessory design are now expected to be finalized and ready to offer within two years.

“We essentially wanted to build up the fine arts department with this visual arts center so that the different disciplines would be front and center,” says Barbara Basch, who along with husband Richard has been a generous patron of the college for at least the last 15 years. Avid glass art collectors, the pair often floated the idea of a campus hot shop for aspiring glass artists, but efforts stayed on the backburner until October 2014, when Richard emailed a proposition to Ringling President Dr. Larry Thompson. The Basches would kickstart the process with a sizable donation for a new visual arts center, the email said, under the condition that the project entail facilities for glass. “I’ve never seen Larry speechless,” recalls Barbara. “ And for the first time, he was.” Richard had only one other stipulation—that their contract should not exceed one page—and the project continued apace.

Designed by Sweet Sparkman Architects, the building aims for something “simple yet sculptural,” according to Bellantoni, with a three-story structure housing the classrooms and gallery attached to an elongated single-story extension containing the various facilities and studios. While interiors take inspiration from the unfinished industrial aesthetic made popular in urban warehouse studios, the exterior presents a refined and overtly artistic visage with great incisions across the surface laying bare crimson streaks from beneath its metal skin. Called intaglio, the engraving method pays homage to the role of glass art in its creation. “They’re going to learn from the building,” says Bellantoni of prospective students. “And its location in the heart of campus reinforces our commitment to being a place where students make things. These facilities are all critical for students because it allows us to expand what we’re offering, but there’s something significant about both the location and architecture.”

As for the gallery space, the name may be different but both Bellantoni and Basch expect the mission to remain true to the Selby Gallery spirit, with its mix of contemporary traveling international exhibitions and faculty and student shows. “If anything,” says Bellantoni, “it will be even better suited because the space is going to be better.” With higher ceilings and a design from scratch, exhibition resources, abilities and opportunities will grow alongside the workshops and classrooms. A decision may not have been made as of yet explaining the finer details, but it seems a foregone conclusion amongst those asked. As Barbara put it rather bluntly, “You can’t lose Selby Gallery and not replace it.”

Currently under construction, Ringling officials project completion of the Basch Visual Arts Center by 2017.