A safety fence surrounds the Walton Arts Center during renovation work at the campus on Dickson Street in Fayetteville.

Photo: Todd Gill, Flyer staff

The Walton Arts Center’s $23 million renovation project is officially underway.

Arts center officials this week announced that the theatre, located at 495 W. Dickson St., will be closed until November for construction.

An artist rendering of the expanded Walton Arts Center from Dickson Street

Screen capture

The upcoming 2015 season will take place through the construction, and the project is scheduled to be complete in time for the 2016 season.

The box office will also temporarily relocate during construction to Nadine Baum Studios at 505 W Spring St., and will keep regular business hours from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from noon until 4 p.m. on Saturday.

The expansion will add 30,000 square feet to the facility, and will include a new atrium that connects to Dickson Street, significant renovations and expansion of Starr Theater, expanded space for back of house technical and theatrical equipment and new administrative offices for Walton Arts Center staff.

Officials last month unveiled a video tour of the plans for the new facility.

More information about the expansion is here, and donor levels and recognition information for the capital campaign is also available at waltonartscenter.com.