SHAMc Starts to Take Shape

Kiaralinda and Todd Ramquist understand that creating a community art and music facility from scratch can be a long, sometimes tedious process.

The hardest part of the process may be having an empty space, knowing what will eventually occupy that space, but not actually being able to see it. 

That part of the process officially ended last week when the materials that will form the steel structure of the Safety Harbor Art and Music Center arrived on a flatbed from North Carolina, and workers began constructing the facility shortly thereafter.

“Finally,” Ramquist exclaimed when asked how it felt to see the facility coming to life. “It’s exciting to see some progress after the gap between designing the building and the construction.” 

“People can finally see there is progress being made.”

Dan Carlson of Laudable Design and Build in Dunedin said on Tuesday the assembly of the 12-gauge steel tube structure is going according to schedule.

“It’s a well-designed building, and assembly is going smoothly,” Carlson said from the site. “We’re right on schedule, and we’re gonna get this thing up as quick as we can.”

Ramquist said they are still waiting for a few connector pieces to arrive from the manufacturer, but he expects the steel exterior to be completed sometime next week. 

After that the roof will be added to the 25-foot-tall structure, and then plywood will be applied to the steel tubing. 

The final step will be to hang the more than 200 customized 3’x5’ mosaic panels that will make up the artistic exterior of SHAMc. 

“We’ve had about 70 people helping us construct these mosaics at our house over the past few months,” Ramquist said. “We’ve had materials donated from Home Depot and Harbor Mirror and Glass. It’s really been fantastic to see.” 

Todd and Kiaralina expect the facility, which will include a remodeled version of the existing 1920s home on the property, to be completed sometime in the fall, with an opening to the public possibly in December.

Until then they will host fundraisers around town and watch with the rest of us as the Safety Harbor Art and Music Center comes to life.

“It’s very exciting to see something finally happening on the property now,” Ramquist said.

Related:

• SHAMc Project is Still On and Going Strong

• SHAMc Project: A Photographic Timeline

• Photo of the Day: SHAMc Foundation

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