Here’s how you breathe new life into a piece of history: the Royal Credit Union Foundation just committed $150,000 to help turn Scandia’s beloved Water Tower Barn into something the whole community can use and enjoy.
The money will help the Scandia Heritage Alliance transform this well-known local landmark into a multi-purpose arts and heritage center. Think music, theater, visual arts, and environmental programming all under one historic roof. And as a thank-you for the Foundation’s support, part of the renovated space will bear the name “Royal Credit Union Foundation Art Space.”
“Royal Credit Union Foundation’s generous investment helps transform the historic Water Tower Barn into a vibrant gathering place for creativity and learning,” said Susan Rodsjo, who serves as Board Chair and President of Scandia Heritage Alliance. “The RCU Foundation Art Space will bring people together through music, theater, visual arts, and environmental programs—creating experiences that inspire connection and celebrate the spirit of our community. Scandia Heritage Alliance is honored to partner with the RCU Foundation.”
For John Sackett, President of the RCU Foundation, this project hits all the right notes. “At the Royal Credit Union Foundation, we believe strong communities are built by fostering creativity and creating welcoming spaces where people can come together across generations,” he explained. “The Water Tower Barn project reflects that belief by transforming a historic landmark into a vibrant arts and heritage center that will serve the Scandia community and visitors for decades to come.”
If everything goes according to plan, construction crews will break ground in 2026, with the finished facility ready to welcome visitors by 2027.
About RCU Foundation
The RCU Foundation launched in 2012 with a straightforward mission: support communities across western Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota where Royal Credit Union has a presence. The Foundation zeroes in on big-picture capital projects—the kind that create actual gathering spaces where community happens. Their focus areas span education, health, and the arts, and they’ve already distributed more than $12 million in grants since day one. Want to learn more? Reach out to foundation@rcu.org.