The last steel beam was hoisted to the top of downtown's Lois & Richard Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art Monday in a noontime ceremony attended by art patrons, administrators and government officials.

Richard and Lois Rosenthal sign the final beam. (Glenn Hartong photo) | ZOOM |

        More than 50 people signed the beam, along with countless construction workers who have been at work on the building for more than a year. It was designed by London-based architect Zaha Hadid.

        “It's so exciting,” said Lois Rosenthal. “Look how everyone is smiling. Maybe it will be the beginning of something new and good in Cincinnati.”

        As the beam jerked up on rope pulleys held steady by two of Turner Construction's crew, the crowd broke out in applause.

        “Every time I come by this building it reminds me that there is going to be a new day in Cincinnati,” Mayor Charlie Luken said. “It's going to be unlike anything we've ever seen in the city, and, for my money, that's good.”

        The Rosenthal Center, scheduled to open May 31, 2003, will be the first free-standing home for the CAC and the city's first museum designed by a woman. The 85,000-square-foot structure at the northwest corner of Walnut and Sixth streets will feature galleries of varying sizes connected like a three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle of solid structures and open spaces.

        The six stories will hold 17,000 square feet of gallery space, the UnMuseum (a children's education center), a 150-seat performance space, bookstore, cafi and office facilities.

        The new CAC is part of a wave of building in art institutions in Cincinnati, including major renovations at the Taft Museum of Art and the Cincinnati Art Museum.

        “I think it's an important step in the transition of the city,” Mr. Luken said. “Cincinnati will look entirely different in the next five years especially with this fabulous international structure in our downtown.”

        Mary Stagaman, who is organizing the Festival of the New, an arts celebration to be held in 2003 with the new CAC at its center, announced a $100,000 gift from the Greater Cincinnati Foundation to get the festival off the ground.

        “It's an opportunity to change perceptions about Cincinnati throughout the world,” she said.

Priest under investigation resigns
Overheated schools send students home early
AFLAC squawks over 'Taft Quack' ads
Restrictions tighten on foreign students
City wants vandalized flags flying again
List of local 9-11 events
NY churches comfort, listen
Parents, widow help build home in memory of 9-11 victim
RADEL: Children's views have changed
PULFER: Simple test of leadership for council
Two officers shot at while on patrol
New art center taking shape
CPS board to buy land for 2 schools
Good News: Riverfront Classic returns
Obituary: Trumpet player began local German band
Teen was going 93 mph at crash, patrol says
Three-car crash injures driver
Wrong-way car on I-275 wreaks havoc
Air Force medics train at University Hospital
Baby sitter indicted in injury to infant
Butler Co. weighs library need vs. cost
Congrats
Deal to drop dancer's charges is off
Ex-trustees fighting for Fox interchange
Local firefighters win softball tournament
Police arrest suspect in second bank chase
Social services to offer help number
CROWLEY: Davis gets some campaign help
Few problems at Oktoberfest
Ky. treasurer touts credit bill
Obituary: Tumor didn't slow Fort Mitchell woman
Park Hills becomes fall garden spot
Water taxi offers ride for next home game
Alexandria sewers topic of workshop
Campus disclosure law easier than expected
Superintendents told funding cuts coming
Tuition rising slightly more than Ky. incomes
UK freshman class biggest in its history