By ERIN HOPKINS

Staff Writer

Walls and ceilings have come down and construction has begun. Restoration of The Dixie Center for the Arts, located at 106 W. Mississippi Ave, began in December 2004 and should be completed January 2006.

Karl Puljak, an assistant professor of architecture, said the center will bring students to the downtown area and give both students and residents exposure to the arts.

"The Center will give the students another opportunity for entertainment and generally improve the quality of students' and residents' lives," Puljak said.

Everett Schram, a senior architecture major, said the center should also fit the rest of the buildings downtown.

"It should be important to uphold the history of the building, as well as improve the building itself, but should also remain with the style of the buildings downtown," Schram said.

Tommy Folk, building committee chairman and a Ruston resident, said everything has been removed inside the building and additions have begun. The infrastructure is being redone to meet safety codes.

"The entire building is being renovated," Folk said. "We are attempting to re-create what the center used to look like."

Folk said the building will be improved and updated to accommodate the community's need for a place to hold theater and musical performances as well as other events.

"The Center will become the home of the North Central Louisiana Arts Council, the Ruston Civic Symphony Society and the Ruston Community Theater," Folk said.

Folk said the Center will serve as a generator of more activity downtown by providing a place for the community to enjoy music, art and theater productions. Modern facilities, lighting equipment and sound equipment will combine with the historical elements of the building.

"We want to have a place to present the history of the theater," Folk said. "As we do the renovations, the historical elements of the building will be kept intact."

Folk said the old chandelier and clock from the original center will be restored and placed back into the theater.

"It is important to preserve these historical elements of the building," Folk said.