ABILENE – Work has started on converting the former Lincoln Middle School/Abilene High School building into Abilene Heritage Square, an entertainment and civic center.
The 105,000-sf building at 1699 S. First St. will include a 700-seat auditorium, a centralized location for the Abilene Public Library, and an extension of the Grace Museum.
Renovations are estimated to cost $41.5 million, including furnishings.
The 1920s building, which is listed on the National Registry of Historical Places, closed in 2007. The city transferred ownership of the property to Abilene Heritage Square Inc. in December 2019.