The Kentucky Center for Traditional Music is designed to attract and support university students, public school students and members of the general public who share an interest in traditional music. Housed in the former Rowan County Public Library, the new facility will provide teaching and practice spaces that are acoustically isolated and tuned for the further development of skills relative to the creation of traditional and regional music.

The existing building was completely renovated to meet the needs of its new owners. A new entry was created to make the facility easily identifiable and inviting to the community. The repurposed space features ensemble classrooms, lecture classroom, practice rooms, a studio/control room, faculty offices, an archive library and support spaces. A large entry lobby welcomes guests and provide exhibit space to highlight the KCTM program.

Acoustics were a primary focus of the renovation, both in terms of noise abatement between spaces and the quality of acoustics within each room, specifically designed for the traditional music program.

This challenging renovation required a complete reconstruction of the existing structure to support its new program. Concurrent improvements made to First Street impacted the design of the newly renovated entry, which was carefully constructed to coordinate with the new streetscape being created outside.

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