Historic Preservation IS183 Art School of the Berkshires

IS183, an independent non profit art school, is located in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, in a building known locally as Citizens Hall, which was designed in 1870 by Charles T. Rathburn to serve as a district schoolhouse on the first floor with a large public meeting hall on the second floor. After district schools were consolidated, Citizens Hall continued to be used as a meeting place, but with decreasing frequency. IS183, founded in 1991, leased space in historic Citizens Hall for the first 14 years. After acquiring title to Citizens Hall in June 2005, IS183 Art School undertook a phased program of capital repairs and restoration to address the widespread effects of deferred maintenance on the building. Exterior restoration was completed in May 2009.

Dana Bixby Architecture initially donated services to assist the art school (a non profit organization) in obtaining grant funding for the exterior restoration and then provided architectural services for the restoration. The exterior restoration work was completed with the support of the Massachusetts Historic Preservation Projects Fund and the Town of Stockbridge through the Community Preservation Act.

The historic consultant was Greg Farmer of Agricola, Inc. and the builder was Peter Hamm of Historic Preservation Associates.