BETHLEHEM, Pa. – On the corner of West Third Street in Bethlehem, a re-imagination is building.

Before the first steel beams of the new $30 million Creative Factory went up, the old Banana Factory had to come down.

Demolition of the Banana Factory in Bethlehem well underway. A look at the site and what’s set to be built there next

But the bricks from that original building didn’t go to a landfill. Instead, they were mixed with concrete and soil and placed back into the ground, to provide the structural support for the new five story hub.

“The layout on the studio floors is really designed to foster a sense of community among the artists. Get artists out of their studios and talking to one another and collaborating on projects,” said Todd Chambers of MKSD Architects, the lead architect for the project. “We created some more, or I guess the more diverse types of spaces than found in the Banana Factory.”

The skeleton of the building is now complete, representing a necessary evolution for ArtsQuest. The ArtsQuest Creative Factory powered by PPL will sit at 80,000-square-feet. This new space will house 36 artist studios, nine classrooms, a comedy theater and more.

New Creative Factory to bring studios, classrooms, and performance spaces to Lehigh Valley

“There will be a 20% increase in artist studios. That increase is going to really accommodate the increased need that we have seen from artists. We had a waiting list at the Banana Factory,” said ArtsQuest Vice President of Visual Arts & Education Lisa Harms.

The goal is to provide a space where anyone, regardless of skill and budget, can create.

“We want people that are makers and artists to use it. We want people that are retired or want to learn a new career,” said ArtsQuest President & CEO Kassie Hilgert. “You don’t have to be a professional artist to go into this building. This is for anyone from age 5 to 95.”

The transformation is moving fast. Drywall is up on the higher floors and painting has begun. It’s projected to bring a $14 million annual economic boost to the area.

The creative factory is on track for a soft opening this November with a full grand opening celebration planned for January 2027.