LAWRENCEVILLE, GA.: The Mayor and Council have announced plans to renovate and expand the city’s downtown theatre space, currently operated by the Aurora Theatre. The new Lawrenceville Performing Arts Complex is set to open mid-2020.

“This exciting project continues the dynamic transformation of the downtown area,” said Mayor Judy Jordan Johnson in a statement. “Lawrenceville is the heart of Gwinnett and maintains a central area rich with activity for all generations. This facility will bring the arts community together with educational opportunities and all the other amenities that our vibrant community has to offer to create a dynamic core for Gwinnett County.”

The new facility, which will live by Pike, Clayton and Crogan Streets, will encompass an educational space, an office, a cabaret theatre, a 500 seat theatre, and the existing Aurora Theatre. Although the totality of this construction was funded by the city upfront, 50 percent of the grand total will be pooled from the city’s arts and educational partners. Officials aim for this building to transform the Lawrenceville landscape without disrupting the ingrained architecture.

The original Aurora Theatre was established in 1996 in a converted hardware store in the suburbs of Atlanta. A decade later they moved into a 100-year-old church that they converted into a $7.5 million theatre. They will now oversee contracts with the City to head and shape programming for their current building and new additions.