Schaumburg’s Prairie Center to anchor campus alone for 20 months as it faces possible changes
Approaching its 40th anniversary next year, Schaumburg’s Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts will provide stability at the municipal campus during the 20 months village hall is being rebuilt, even as it faces potential changes of its own.
With perhaps just a little rearrangement of space, indoor arts programming as well as the major outdoor events of the Prairie Arts Festival, Summer Breeze Concert Series and Septemberfest will be watched over by Prairie Center staff throughout the fenced-off construction project next door.
Even the village’s mated swans, Louis and Serena, will continue to patrol the municipal pond and raise their newly hatched cygnets during the summers of 2025 and 2026.
But a proposed expansion of the Prairie Center’s lobby, originally envisioned for the 2028-29 budget year, might just be moved up to the anniversary next year for the sake of construction efficiency, Schaumburg Cultural Services Director Tiana Weiler said.
“I think we can tie it together,” she said of both occasions. “That’s very exciting for us here.”
It’s beyond question the facility will continue to bear the name of the village’s longest-serving mayor, who was its particular advocate. However, a study into possibly rebranding the “Prairie Center” part of its title originally suggested for the current budget year will instead take place during the next that begins May 1.
Such a study would involve a hired consultant to guide the process and likely focus groups to gauge how the community feels about the status quo, Weiler said.
The reason for examining the question is that the Prairie Center’s identity --- down to its logo being stalks of wheat --- was established during a different era of the village’s history, she added.
While village hall is being reconstructed from this spring through late 2026, its staff will be working out of a temporary facility at 1000 Woodfield Road.
Weiler said the Prairie Center won’t be losing any of its parking during the process, but the Summit Drive access to the campus may sometimes experience daytime closures.
Considering how hard the village worked to restore its pandemic-interrupted traditions, she is pleased that only minor changes will be needed to hold the Prairie Arts Festival on the grounds during Memorial Day weekend. It will be followed by the Summer Breeze concerts on six dates in July and August, and Septemberfest over Labor Day weekend.
The tree lighting in the plaza between village hall and the Prairie Center also remains scheduled for November.