Seattle Theatre Group Buys Kerry Hall from Cornish College

Seattle Theater Group has purchased Kerry Hall from Cornish College of the Arts for $6 million. 

The building, 710 E. Roy St., was built in 1921 and was once the home of Cornish founder Nellie Cornish. 

“It was important to the Board of Trustees that the building remain in the arts community, and that our founder, Nellie Cornish’s legacy be honored,” says Cornish Interim President Emily Parkhurst. “We see this outcome as the best-case scenario and look forward to partnering with STG on performances and educational opportunities at Kerry Hall for many years to come.” 

From left: Interim President of Cornish Emily Parkhurst, Director of Education for STG Marisol Sanchez Best, and Natalie Robbecke chair of the STG board of directors, pictured at Kerry Hall.

The sale caps a year of big changes for the nonprofit performing and visual arts college. In April, the college announced plans to sell Kerry Hall to consolidate its campus in South Lake Union. The decision sparked protests from students worried about losing the building’s artistic identity. In July, Dr. Raymond Tymas-Jones, Cornish’s 10th president, retired after six years.

STG, the nonprofit behind the Paramount, Moore, and Neptune theaters, and an outdoor venue at Remlinger Farms in Carnation, plans to use Kerry Hall to expand its community arts programming. More details will be announced in early 2025.

“Kerry Hall has fostered immeasurable creativity and innovation in the arts for close to 100 years, and I’m proud that STG will continue Cornish’s legacy,” says Marisol Sanchez Best, STG’s director of education and community engagement.

The 31,900-square-foot building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s also the last Cornish building on Capitol Hill. Over the decades, its classrooms, rehearsal spaces, and large performance hall have hosted countless artists. First outlined in a 1996 master plan, the sale completes Cornish’s long-term unification efforts. Cornish has already relocated its dance and music programs to its South Lake Union campus and the Cornish Playhouse at Seattle Center.

Proceeds from the sale will support the college’s financial stability and operations, helping Cornish grow its undergraduate programs in the fine arts. Cornish’s enrollment is 488 students, and annual tuition is $41,000.

STG presents more than 850 events annually to about 1 million people. Its flagship Education and Community Engagement Program reaches more than 40,000 students and community members through more than 500 free or low-cost events each year. From Broadway shows to community workshops, STG’s mission is rooted in making the arts accessible.

Note: Cornish Interim President Emily Parkhurst is married to Seattle magazine Executive Editor Rob Smith.