Kitchen in the works at 1912 Center

The 1912 Center in Moscow has a wide-open 10,000-square-foot third floor that’s been unused by the community for years.

It is embarking on a plan to change that.

“We’re going to bring back the life that it once had,” said local architect Drew Davis.

Davis is the project manager for architecture firm Knit Studios, which was selected by the 1912 Center to create a design plan for the third floor of the multipurpose community building.

Heart of the Arts, Inc., the nonprofit that took over operations of the building in 2007, has worked to renovate it for community events over the years. It completed renovations of the second floor in 2022.

As it turns its attention to the third floor, Heart of the Arts has decided to build a commercial kitchen in the floor’s east wing.

On Tuesday, the public was invited to tour the floor and submit ideas for what the kitchen could look like. Davis said the kitchen could serve a variety of people, including restaurant cooks who need an extra kitchen space, caterers, farmers market vendors or those who want to teach cooking classes.

Twenty-three visitors came to share their ideas. Moscow residents Autumn Busick and her daughter Carson suggested the kitchen could have different stations supplied with everything the user needs. Carson Busick said the kitchen could have a rolling cart that would make transferring items back and forth easier.

Linnea Marshall, of Moscow, suggested the kitchen could be separated into two spaces with a shared storage compartment. She said it also could use a sitting area for users to rest or eat their meals.

Marshall said she enjoyed the chance to conjure up ideas for the new space.

“I can sit here and dream,” she said.

The third floor also has a west wing and a large ballroom space in the middle that’s bookended by brick walls. Davis said Knit Studios and Heart of the Arts will complete renovations throughout the floor as funding allows.

“It’s this whole big beautiful open space,” said Heart of the Arts Director Jenny Kostroff.

The 1912 Center building was once a high school and a junior high, so the floor used to be home to classrooms and an auditorium. Signatures from students in the 1910s and 1920s can still be found on the east wing wall.

Kostroff said the intent is to preserve “that hint” of what the floor used to be with the new redesign.

Windows and skylights let in so much natural light that the 1912 Center stores plants up there. The west wing features views of downtown Moscow and the University of Idaho.

As Knit Studios plans to review the community’s ideas for the kitchen, the public can donate money to the project at 1912center.org.

Kuipers can be reached at akuipers@dnews.com.