Photos by Lisa Boehm

Ceremonial event at SteelStacks marks major construction milestone for Re-Imagine That! Capital Campaign

Bethlehem, Lehigh Valley, PA, May 22, 2026 –  ArtsQuest yesterday celebrated a major milestone in its Re-Imagine That! Capital Campaign with a ceremonial brick breaking for the Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN), part of Jefferson Health, Turn & Grind Shop at the ArtsQuest Campus at SteelStacks.

The event brought together state and local officials, sponsors, donors and community partners to mark the next phase of construction for the historic Bethlehem Steel facility—once a critical part of the nation’s industrial and military production—into a multi-use arts and cultural venue.

The ceremony featured remarks from Pennsylvania Secretary of Revenue Patrick Browne; State Senator Lisa Boscola; Northampton County Executive Tara Zrinski; City of Bethlehem Director of Community and Economic Development Laura Collins; Dr. Joseph Cacchione, CEO of Jefferson Health; ArtsQuest President & CEO Kassie Hilgert; Sean Boyle, President of Boyle Construction and Gregg Feinberg, co-chair of the Re-Imagine That! Capital Campaign. ArtsQuest Chief Operating Officer Curt Mosel opened and closed the program.

Revitalizing a 155-Year-Old Building

Originally part of Bethlehem Steel’s No. 2 Machine Shop operations, the 26,000-square-foot Turn & Grind Shop played a vital role in shaping and finishing massive steel components to exact specifications. During World War II, Bethlehem Steel supplied approximately 80% of the U.S. Navy’s armor plate and heavy guns, with facilities like the Turn & Grind contributing to the precision machining that powered more than 1,000 naval vessels.

Today, that same space is being reimagined—transforming from a site of industrial production into a dynamic, multi-purpose venue that will support arts programming large-scale festivals, private events and corporate functions throughout the year. The LVHN, part of Jefferson Health Turn & Grind Shop will provide much needed expansion for signature events like Musikfest, Christkindlmarkt and Oktoberfest, while creating new opportunities for community engagement and regional tourism.

“This building tells a powerful story,” said Kassie Hilgert, President & CEO of ArtsQuest. “The Turn & Grind Shop once helped build the machinery that powered our nation. Today, we’re honoring that legacy by transforming it into a flexible, multi-use space that will bring people together for exhibits, festivals, events and shared experiences. From Musikfest and Christkindlmarkt to new programming and corporate gatherings, this facility will play a critical role in how we continue to grow SteelStacks as a destination for arts, culture and community.”

Advancing the Re-Imagine That! Capital Campaign

The Turn & Grind Shop is a cornerstone project within ArtsQuest’s Re-Imagine That! Capital Campaign, which also includes the ArtsQuest Creative Factory powered by PPL. Together, these projects represent more than $80 million in investment in public arts infrastructure by ArtsQuest across Bethlehem’s SouthSide Arts District.

As SteelStacks continues to evolve as a regional and national destination for arts and culture, the revitalization of the Turn & Grind Shop also reflects the growing connection between welcoming public spaces, social connection and overall community wellbeing.

“This project reflects what’s possible when healthcare, arts and community come together with a shared vision,” said Dr. Joseph Cacchione, CEO of Jefferson Health. “We are proud to support the transformation of the Turn & Grind Shop into a space that promotes wellbeing, connection and creativity—all key components of a healthy and thriving community.”

A New Chapter in Adaptive Reuse

The redevelopment of the Turn & Grind Shop, designed by MKSD Architects and developed by Boyle Construction, builds on ArtsQuest’s nationally recognized work in adaptive reuse, continuing the transformation of the Bethlehem Steel site into a sustainable arts and cultural campus.

“The vision for the Turn & Grind Shop has always been about honoring the building’s legacy while reimagining how the community will experience it moving forward,” said Todd Chambers, Partner at MKSD Architects. “Our design approach preserves the industrial authenticity and architectural character that make this structure so significant, while introducing flexible, modern spaces that will allow the building to evolve into a destination for arts, culture, hospitality and community connection.”

The brick breaking, which allowed guests to gather at a designated spot inside the remediated building to tap bricks with ceremonial mini sledgehammers, served as a symbolic nod to both its industrial past and its future.

“From an engineering and construction perspective, it’s been an incredibly rewarding and complex undertaking to work within a 155-year-old building while carefully preserving the integrity and character of the original Turn & Grind Shop,” said Sean Boyle, President of Boyle Construction. “As construction progresses, we’re carefully balancing restoration with innovation and adapting the building in a way that honors its legacy while transforming it into a new venue to support the arts and community experiences for generations to come.” 

As construction progresses, ArtsQuest will continue to share updates and milestones leading up to the project’s completion as part of the broader Re-Imagine! That Capital Campaign, which is expected to conclude in 2027.

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.

Information provided to TVL by:

Bryn Keeney