Fuller House Opens Friday January 14 

Twenty-six years after the Irene Lawrence Fuller House was moved to BAYarts campus, the renovation project is winding down.  Thanks to the Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission grant of $250,000, a supporting grant by the Cleveland Metroparks for an additional $100,000 and other business and personal donations.

Local landscapers Byron and Julia Shutt of MapleLeaf Landscaping, Mark Yager of YDesign Group, Scott Adams of JQ Adams Construction and Steven Knowles of the Cleveland Metroparks were instrumental in the planning and final design concepts, along with financial support from PNC Bank, color and product support from Pratt & Lambert Paints, Glidden, Edelman Plumbing, Moen Company.

The Fuller House was saved from demolition in 1984 when the organization’s former director, Sally Price, and her Board of Directors saw its potential as an art gallery and education facility.  Sparky DiBenedetto, whose company was building a new project on the site, helped make the difficult move possible.  Unlike traditional means of moving a house, the Fuller House was moved to the lakefront, transported on a barge on Lake Erie, and then trailered to it’s current spot, attracting local, regional, national and international media attention.

“We are very excited to begin our long awaited renovation project after all these years,” said Peter Winzig, Renovation Project Coordinator.  “Our team has worked for almost two years preparing our plans, securing our financing and working with our design, building and materials partners to finally begin the renovation.  So many people have been involved in helping us get this project started, it’s impossible to list them all."

View photos of the Fuller House progression here.