Francis Marion University recently acquired another building in downtown Florence.
A press release from FMU says the City of Florence has transferred ownership of the L.S. Rainwater Building, located at 142 North Dargan Street, to the FMU Educational Foundation. The university will soon begin work to turn the three-story, 17,000 square-foot structure into the new home of the FMU Kelly Center for Enterprise and Innovation. The first floor of the building will have an art gallery curated by the university’s Department of Fine Arts and managed the FMU Performing Arts Centers.
According to the release, the funding for the renovation will be provided by the Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation.
Dr. Fred Carter, the president of the university, says the building is important to the relationship between FMU and the city. “Collaborations between these two entities have led to new programs, new facilities, and new achievements that continue to benefit the community and its people. The new, expanded Kelley Center, and this extraordinary art gallery, will be terrific additions that will further enhance this tradition.”
The Rainwater building will be the university’s fifth facility in downtown Florence. Existing facilities include the FMU Performing Arts Center, the Luther F. Carter Center for Health Sciences, and the FMU Recording Studio.
