All of the blinds are down at 8 College St., but the red awning with the words Asheville Design Center remains even though the center itself has moved. After six years at its downtown location, the ADC has found a new home in a wing at the William Randolph School.
“I think there’s a significant change that’s going to come with the organization. The old location really made a lot of sense in the beginning for the organization in 2006 when we were really focused on the I-26 connector project. We wanted to be transparent and accessible to the community, so it was the perfect location for that,” explains Chris Joyell, the organization’s executive director.
At the William Randolph School, the organization will now be neighbors with LEAF, Green Opportunities Kitchen-Ready program and other organizations. According to Joyell, The nonprofit began moving out of its downtown location in early April.
Known widely for their work with the North Carolina Department of Transportation on the I-26 connector project, the ADC will continue working with the Asheville community to help with various design needs. A few projects in progress include a new playground for the Klondyke Apartments and an outdoor learning center at Hall Fletcher Elementary. Joyell says he hopes the new location will continue to make the nonprofit accessible to the community. “We want to be able to meet people where they’re at,” he says. “Even though we’ve moved, we’re still here.”
As for the building space at 8 College St., according to architect Bill Langdon, who leased the downtown space to ADC, the new tenants of 8 College St. will use the building to set up a retail store.
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