On Thursday, March 6, the City of South Bend hosted a steel signing and topping ceremony for the Raclin Murphy Encore Center, a 20,000-square-foot addition to the historic Morris Performing Arts Center. This event celebrated the placement of the last girder in the Encore Center’s structure. Representatives of Larson-Danielson Construction, the project’s construction contractor, were present at the event, along with local elected officials, business executives, city staff, and passersby.
South Bend Mayor James Mueller, appreciates how the South Bend community and state legislators helped provide funding for the renovation and considers that to be something well worth celebrating.
“The Morris Center is yet another iconic venue in South Bend that's receiving a major renovation,” Mueller said. “We at the city are thankful for the Common Council and Redevelopment Commission’s help in moving projects like this one forward. We’re proud of everyone who has come together to make this exciting milestone possible. The only thing that gets mayors more excited than events like this are ribbon cuttings, so I can’t wait until we’re back here for the Encore Center’s ribbon cutting."
Upon completion, the Raclin Murphy Encore Center will feature a bar, a lounge, an event space, a new pre-function space, and new restrooms. It will offer improved accessibility and will have a space dedicated to the hosting of equity in the arts-oriented programs. It will also provide the Morris Center with more lobby space and an expanded concessions area.
South Bend’s First District Councilman Pastor Canneth Lee stated that the Encore Center will benefit South Bend as a whole in a variety of ways.
“For over a century, the Morris Performing Arts Center has been the heartbeat of entertainment in our city,” Lee said. “It brings world-class performances to South Bend and makes the arts accessible to all. By adding the Raclin Murphy Encore Center, we are taking a bold step forward. The Encore Center will help expand opportunities for artists, enhance our downtown district, and ensure that this treasured venue in South Bend’s first district will last and thrive for generations to come. This is not just an investment in bricks and mortar, but an investment in our people, our economy, and our shared future.”
During the ceremony, which took place next to the Raclin Murphy Encore Center construction site, the building’s final support girder was put on display, ready for attendees to write their signatures on it. After several representatives offered their remarks, members of Ironworkers Local 292 employed by Crane Industrial Service Company (CISCO) lifted the girder with a crane and bolted it into place as the attendees looked on and cheered.
Jordan Gathers, executive director of venues parks, and arts for the City of South Bend, regards the construction of the Encore Center as a chance to celebrate South Bend’s rich and multi-faceted culture.
“This is truly a great milestone and a continuation of progress here in our city of South Bend,” Gathers said. “The expansion will elevate visitors’ experience. It will bring about programming and events that promote togetherness, collaboration, and creativity. I’m most excited about equity in the art space as it will help amplify the diverse voices here in our community, ultimately championing a better tomorrow. Thank you all for helping to drive this vision forward, and together, let's build a legacy of cultural inclusion that will last for the next 100 years.”
Ernestine Morris Carmichael Raclin, along with her daughter Carmen Murphy and son-in-law Chris Murphy, have long been renowned throughout Michiana for the generous philanthropic support they have lent the community. The family’s foundation was a prominent donor to the Encore Center project. Kevin Murphy, chief digital officer and executive vice president for First Source Bank and grandson to Carmen Murphy and Chris Murphy, is grateful for the opportunity to support the South Bend community in this way.
“I’d like to thank everyone for being here today,” Kevin Murphy said. “You showed up on a 30 degree day to celebrate this event and that dedication is what makes events like this one so successful. My sister Kelly Murphy, my wife Erin Murphy, and the rest of our family are so excited to support this community and continue the legacy of our grandmothers and great-grandparents.”
In 2024, the City allocated over $15.2 million for the Encore Center project. Since then over 240 private individuals, businesses, and community organizations have donated funds to support the project’s $30 million donation goal. Encore Center’s construction has also received funding through a Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative grant, a state government-level fund.
Indiana House of Representatives Northern Indiana Sixth District Representative Maureen Bauer looks forward to seeing how much the Encore Center will benefit South Bend and its residents in the future.
“The Morris Performing Arts Center is a place where voices are heard, imaginations are sparked, and stories come to life,” Bauer said. “The Encore Center addition will enhance the cultural landscape here in our city and the collaboration on this project highlights the importance of investing in our community's creative future to support regional projects and improve residents’ quality of life. As we look forward, let us remember that we are crafting a legacy that will enrich our community and inspire the next generation to come.”
You can learn more about Larson-Danielson Construction’s upcoming projects and events by visiting ldconstruction.com.
