The Latest from the Cornell Complex

A Milestone Year

2021 was a huge year for the Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex and we couldn't have done it without your support!

Representatives of the Complex, Connect2Culture, and Spiva Center for the Arts, alongside approximately 125 community members, gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Cornell Complex on February 1st. After remarks from project leaders, attendees stood socially distanced outlining a spray-painted footprint of the soon-to-be Complex. Pompoms waved, a drone flew overhead, and all counted down in anticipation of this long-awaited milestone. Thank you to all who came! Relive the special moment with our official groundbreaking ceremony video below.

In June, our official time lapse camera began capturing all of the onsite action. Videos continue to be released monthly and have captured milestone moments in the building’s construction. Highlights include foundation work, concrete pours, plumbing and electrical installation, the erection of steel, masonry, roof decking and installation, floor protection, interior and exterior framing, and more.

Five short months after the groundbreaking, the official "Topping Out" Ceremony was held on July 30th. Representatives from the Cornell Complex, Connect2Culture, Spiva Center for the Arts, Crossland Construction Company, Inc., CGA Architects, Joplin City Government, media outlets, and others watched as the final steel beam of the Complex was set, marking a major milestone in its construction.

In June, our official time lapse camera began capturing all of the onsite action. Videos continue to be released monthly and have captured milestone moments in the building’s construction. Highlights include foundation work, concrete pours, plumbing and electrical installation, the erection of steel, masonry, roof decking and installation, floor protection, interior and exterior framing, and more.

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Building Basics

Our November time lapse is here! As the weather turned cooler, Crossland Construction crews turned to more detailed work on the building: installing the fire suppression system, preparing the roof for further work, and continuing interior and exterior framing. See it all come together in the newest video update!

Missed a video? Watch the progression of this dream becoming reality and see future updates on the Cornell Complex website!

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Cornell Conversations

Board members from Connect2Culture and Spiva Center for the Arts saw firsthand the progress being made on the Cornell Complex during a brief tour of their future home on Monday, September 27th. Would you like tour the site? Tours are available upon request. We'd love to show you the progress!

The Cornell Complex's operating organizations are kicking off the first few months of 2022 with some exciting events! See below for information about Connect2Culture's upcoming performances featuring Charles McPherson and Spiva Center for the Arts' opening reception for two new exhibits.

Connect2Culture: Charles McPherson

Spiva January Reception

Do you have an important moment coming up in 2022? Maybe a special anniversary, milestone birthday, child’s graduation, or even the birth of a new grandchild? Celebrate with us by designating a financial gift in honor of that event or person! We can conveniently add your designated dollar amount to an existing pledge and we’ll even send a special note to your chosen honoree! Just let us know who, where and when to send it and your thoughtful gift will be acknowledged tastefully by the Cornell Complex!

C2C’s Year In Review

Speaking of milestone's…

click here

2021 was FULL of them for Joplin's arts and cultural community. Each year, Connect2Culture collects these moments and creates a retrospective including some of the most memorable arts and cultural moments in the Joplin area. Don't miss this! Click here.

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Cornell Community

View the latest links to media featuring the Cornell Complex, like 4 States Live's building updates, The Joplin Globe's coverage of the Topping Out Ceremony, KOAM's coverage of the Topping Out Ceremony, and The Joplin Globe's article about new construction in Joplin in 2021 featuring the Complex.

Monthly Building Updates | 4 States Live

Topping Out Ceremony | The Joplin Globe

Topping Out Ceremony | KOAM

Joplin Construction | The Joplin Globe

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YEAR END GIVING

Despite minor set backs and supply chain hiccups, the Cornell Complex is on track and still set to open late 2022. To date, a total of 326 individuals, businesses, foundations, and community organizations have committed $16,989,344 – 97% of the expanded $17.5 million goal! All donations, big or small, are still needed to help reach the expanded goal. Join us!

The Latest from the Cornell Complex

We’re Springing Forward

The flowers and trees are blossoming and so are we! So much good has come to the Cornell Complex these past few months and we’re celebrating with this latest update.

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Celebrating the Life of a Creative Spirit

Jo Mueller passionately supported development of the Cornell Complex and was instrumental in developing this home for the arts in Joplin that will bring together Connect2Culture, Spiva Center for the Arts, and more under one roof. Her input and expertise was invaluable and this dream, which is quickly becoming a reality, would not have been possible without her. Learn more about Jo’s impact on the Complex, as well as Joplin’s creative community (and beyond) here.

Jo's legacy will live on in many ways – both tangible and intangible. The rental gallery in the Spiva wing of the Cornell Complex, which Jo championed, has been dedicated to her memory by Connect2Culture and the Cornell Complex. The Jo Mueller Gallery will provide rental space for exhibitions by area artists and art groups. The Spiva board has also designated the Small Works Auction, an annual fundraiser, as the Jo Mueller Small Works Auction, beginning in 2022.

A celebration of Jo's life will be held June 19, 2021, 4:30-6:30pm at Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary (602 S. Byers Ave., Joplin, MO).

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Building Basics

Being stopped by a red light near the future site of the Cornell Complex has never been such a treat! Have you seen the progress? Big equipment, piles of dirt, foundations being laid, footings, and more are quickly coming together. Though not the most exciting, or glamorous, we can already see the building taking shape.

Soon, we will start sharing monthly footage from our new time-lapse camera! Installed across Joplin Street, it will provide a regular birds-eye-view of progress being made. We can’t wait to share it with you and watch the Complex grow, together.

As of May, an estimated 12% of construction at the site of Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex has been completed. We're on our way, Joplin!

View from southeast corner, looking north.

View at west side of elevator pit, looking east.

View from southeast corner looking northwest.

View from southeast corner looking north.

View of southeast corner foundation.

View of pit, southwest corner looking northeast.

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Cornell Conversations

COVID-19 didn’t stop supporters of the Cornell Complex from safely gathering for the groundbreaking of the building on Monday, February 1, 2021. Representatives of the Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex, Connect2Culture, and Spiva Center for the Arts, alongside approximately 125 community members, gathered to celebrate. After remarks from project leaders, attendees stood socially distanced outlining a spray-painted footprint of the soon-to-be Complex. Pompoms waved, a drone flew overhead, and all counted down in anticipation of this long-awaited milestone.

With restrictions easing, the Cornell Complex's operating organizations are busy planning and hosting in-person, arts and cultural events once again! Take a look at some of their upcoming offerings below (click on the images below for details).

Connect2Culture

Farewell Angelina

Saturday, June 5 | 7:00pm
Joplin Empire Market Courtyard

Get Tickets

Spiva center for the arts

Dear World From Joplin With Love

10th Anniversary
May 20–23, 2021

Learn More

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Cornell Community

View the latest links to media featuring the Cornell Complex, like The Joplin Globe’s coverage of our exciting groundbreaking ceremony, ShowMe The Ozarks Magazine's "Faces & Places" groundbreaking spotlight, and the latest Op-Ed in The Joplin Globe from Curt Crossland, President Midwest Region for Crossland Construction Company.

Curt Crossland Op-Ed

Groundbreaking Coverage

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Don’t Forget!

The matching gift challenge is a great opportunity for new donors to maximize impact with this momentous project. Encourage friends, family, and coworkers who have not yet given to get involved before the challenge ends June 30, 2021. Click here to learn more!

Matching Gift Challenge for New Donors!

The Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex board of directors is pleased to announce a new matching gift challenge! Several anonymous donors have joined forces to provide a dollar-for-dollar match up to a maximum amount of $150,000. Specifics are as follows:

• Donor must be a completely new contributor to The Cornell Complex.

• Commitment must be communicated before June 30, 2021.

• Commitment must fall within the range of $2,500 to $12,500 to qualify for matching funds. Gifts of this size will then result in recognitions from $5,000 to $25,000. Donors will be recognized on the Donor Wall and may be eligible to reserve a specific naming opportunity within the Complex on a first come, first served basis.

• Commitment must be completed in full by December 31, 2022.

See below for links to the official gift form, a listing of the most current naming opportunities, as well as our recently updated presentation book.

Inquiries may be made to Clifford Wert, The Cornell Complex Treasurer, by email (clifford@connect2culture.org) or by phone (417-439-0385).

Save The Date: Groundbreaking Ceremony

A groundbreaking ceremony for the Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex will be held Monday, February 1, 2021, 1:00pm at the Complex site (212 West 7th Street, Joplin, MO 64801). In the case of inclement weather, the groundbreaking ceremony will take place Tuesday, February 2, 2021.

Representatives of The Cornell Complex, Connect2Culture, and Spiva Center for the Arts will be on hand, as well as project architects and the construction manager.

Architects for the project are DLR Group/Westlake Reed Leskosky of New York City, NY, and Corner Greer & Associates of Joplin, MO. The Construction Manager for the project is Crossland Construction Company headquartered in Columbus, KS.

All those in attendance are asked to wear face masks and observe social distancing practices (6 feet between themselves and other parties present).

The Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex will be a visual and performing arts center that educates, enlightens, and entertains while attracting more people and activities to downtown Joplin. The multifunctional Complex will include a 470-seat highly adaptable performance hall with theatrical seating that can be converted into a flat floor configuration, a shared stage for both indoor and outdoor performances, new and expanded gallery spaces for Spiva Center for the Arts, an outdoor amphitheater/festival plaza with capacity to host 2,000 people, rooftop venues, potential office space for arts and cultural organizations, and more. Connect2Culture will manage all performance venues, while Spiva Center for the Arts will manage gallery and classroom spaces. It is anticipated that the Complex will be open to the public in late 2022.

We hope to see you there! Feel free to let us know you’re coming via the Facebook event page.

While you’re here, check out a variety of new interior/exterior renderings or our recently updated presentation book.

$15.8 Million Pledged

An update and media briefing pertaining to the Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex (The Cornell Complex) was held Monday, January 27, 11:00am at Spiva Center for the Arts (222 West 3rd St, Joplin, MO 64801).

An exciting new total of funding commitments were shared, as well as an updated timeline and information pertaining to the governance of the Complex. A 3-D printed model of the most current rendering, and how it compares to the surrounding area, was on display.

It was announced that a total of $15.8 million in commitments have been received from 248 individuals, businesses, foundations, and organizations. This is 98.7% of the $16 million goal for the project. This new total is a $1,142,000 increase from the amount revealed at the Launch Party held in June 2019 that ultimately secured the land for the project.

“We are definitely going to build The Cornell Complex within our budget and manage the process as we continue our capital campaign,” stated Clifford Wert, President & CFO, Connect2Culture.

The Cornell Complex will be a major new destination in downtown Joplin that will enhance quality of life and create a gathering place for citizens, area residents, and visitors.

The multifunctional Cornell Complex will consist of a 450-475 seat performance hall, new and expanded gallery spaces for Spiva Center for the Arts, an outdoor amphitheater/festival plaza with an updated capacity for 1,500-2,000 people, rooftop venues, and more. Connect2Culture will manage all performance venues, while Spiva will manage gallery and classroom spaces. New interior plans consist of a shared stage for both indoor and outdoor performances. Plans also include potential office space for arts and cultural organizations, in addition to those of Connect2Culture and Spiva Center for the Arts.

The Capital Campaign Committee for The Cornell Complex has now challenged itself to seek a new grand total of $17.5 million in commitments to further enhance the Complex. Enhancements may include: a canopy for the amphitheater, outdoor interactive water feature, sculptures throughout the grounds, orchestra shell, a marley floor for dance performances, and additional offices for local arts and cultural organizations.

“Opportunity now exists for more supporters to join and make The Cornell Complex an even greater facility for this community,” said Wert. “The more we raise, the more of these enhancements we can provide.”

The timeline for the project is on schedule with groundbreaking planned for late 2020. The Complex will open to the public in Fall 2022. As previously announced, architects for the project are DLR Group/Westlake Reed Leskosky of New York City, NY and Corner Greer & Associates of Joplin, MO. The Construction Manager for the project is Crossland Construction Company headquartered in Columbus, KS.

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In addition, it was announced that effective August 5, 2019, the Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex was incorporated under the State of Missouri Nonprofit Corporation Act. The board of the corporation consists of nine members. The three members representing Connect2Culture include Clifford Wert, Troy Hill, and Anne Curchin. The three members representing Spiva Center for the Arts include Annette Thurston, Steve Graddy, and Angela Austin Vorhees. Sharon Beshore is the Cornell/Beshore family designee. Two independent members include Dr. Ronald Lankford and Laurie Delano. Officers are Sharon Beshore as President, Annette Thurston as Secretary, and Clifford Wert as Treasurer. The Cornell Complex is in the process of obtaining its 501c3 designation from the Internal Revenue Service.