DE PERE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The Mulva Cultural Center is officially halfway done in De Pere.
The massive structure is at the intersection of South Broadway and South Wisconsin street.
The 75,000 square foot facility will open its doors late summer of 2023.
The next phase of the construction is finishing the exterior of the building.
“The next big timeline really is completing the glass,” says Mulva Cultural Center CEO Mike Van Asten. “here’s almost 400 separate panels, many that weigh 2,000 pounds each.”
One of the main design goals is maximizing the daylight.
“It’s very light filled,” says Senior Designer James Fisher. “It has skylights above; it has very high-performing glass on the exterior so, although you get a lot of light and transparency, it’s also very insulating.”
Van Asten says they are already hiring employees.
“Expect to employ about 60 people both full and part time. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t get a resume from someone,” says Van Asten.
The Mulva Cultural Center will benefit members of the community as well as schools and universities.
“We will be interacting with St. Norbert College, University of Wisconsin Green Bay, Lawrence University, Bellin College. I have already had meetings and connections with both high school and higher ed,” says Van Asten.
The center will feature indoor and outdoor gathering spaces, a theater, classrooms, a gift shop and an exhibition space.
The center is expected to bring a lot of tourism into the City of De Pere.
“The entire business community is counting on that,” says Van Asten.
The center provides views of the Fox River, the bridge and surrounding neighborhoods.
“This is a world-class facility in small town De Pere,” says Fisher.
