PYRAMID ATLANTIC ART CENTER

Known as the Arcade building, this adaptive reuse rehabilitation of a 100 year old structure, located in the Historic District of Hyattsville, MD, is now home to the Pyramid Atlantic Art Center. The building has had multiple lives in the community, first as the Pinckney Memorial Church, then as a silent movie theater, bowling alley, and arcade and early shopping center. When the city hit hard times, the structure was abandoned and fell into disrepair. Inscape Publico was commissioned by Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, with support from the state, county, and city, to create a new forum for arts activities in this vacant building. Now the revitalized structure serves as an anchor for the Gateway Arts District in Prince George's County.

Pyramid Atlantic believes that prints, handmade paper, and book arts are a source of inspiration, that experimentation leads to discovery, and that creativity is the cornerstone of the learning process. The design of Pyramid Atlantic with the bindery, print shop, dark room, screenprinting studio, private artist studios, and woodshop encircling an open classroom and breakout space, facilitates communication between the artists and an exchange of ideas. The entry off of Gallatin Street in downtown Hyattsville welcomes community members to share in the work of the artists. The building is also home to two other well known community based organizations, the Neighborhood Design Center and the Anacostia Trails Heritage Area.

Winner of Preservation Maryland's Best of Maryland 2017 Community Choice Award!

Photos courtesy of Pyramid Atlantic Art Center and photographer Raphael Talisman.