The Art Academy of Cincinnati is about to give its Over-the-Rhine campus a long-awaited facelift, thanks to a $922,212 grant from the state of Ohio. The funding will help the 155-year-old institution cut energy use, modernize aging infrastructure and put more resources directly into students’ hands.
The grant comes from the Ohio Department of Development’s Advanced Energy Fund and will cover a large portion of upgrades to the Academy’s heating, cooling and water systems. Once finished, AAC expects to slash its annual energy use by about 46%, one of the highest projected savings among recipients in this funding round.
“This investment from the state of Ohio strengthens the Art Academy of Cincinnati for the long term,” said Joe Girandola, president and CEO of the Art Academy. “By dramatically reducing our energy usage, we are lowering operating costs while making smart, sustainable improvements to our campus that allow us to focus more resources on our students, faculty and academic programs.”
A campus with history – and aging infrastructure
AAC has called its multi-structure Jackson Street campus home since 2005, leaving behind its longtime site in Eden Park. The complex blends Cincinnati’s industrial past with the Academy’s creative future. A six-story former printing facility anchors the site, while a four-story warehouse – originally built for Shillito’s, later used by the Cincinnati Art Museum for storage and briefly home to BarrelHouse Brewery – now houses classrooms, studios and galleries. The campus’s brick walls and high ceilings give it character, but many of its mechanical systems have quietly aged.
The state grant will stabilize rooftop systems, replace outdated HVAC and water equipment and bring the campus up to modern safety, accessibility and sustainability standards. AAC expects the improvements to extend the buildings’ life by 20 to 30 years and support projected enrollment growth of about 30% over the next few years, Girandola said.
The Advanced Energy Fund backs projects across Ohio that can prove measurable reductions in energy use. Awardees must demonstrate at least a 15% improvement.
“What makes the Advanced Energy Fund so unique is that it allows us to help organizations across all sectors stretch their dollars further,” said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Department of Development. “Whether it’s a school, nonprofit or a local business, these upgrades mean real savings that can be redirected toward supporting the people and communities they serve.”
This round of funding totals more than $8.3 million for projects in nine counties.
For the Art Academy, the renovations are more than an energy-efficiency upgrade. They represent a chance to preserve Cincinnati’s architectural heritage while also equipping AAC students with modern learning environments.
Girandola noted that the Academy will continue seeking additional support from foundations, private donors and the city as part of its broader campus improvement campaign.
The long-term goal is a facility that reflects both the school’s legacy and its forward-looking mission, which includes advancing sustainability initiatives that will benefit the broader Cincinnati community.
“By significantly lowering long-term utility costs, the Art Academy of Cincinnati will be able to redirect operational savings toward its core mission of educating and supporting emerging artists and designers,” Girandola said.
Discover more from Movers & Makers
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.