BVH designed a 15,000 square-foot restoration and adaptive reuse for the building.  The first floor accommodates the foundation's administrative offices, board room, lobby, gallery space and a gift shop.  Detailing and wall configurations are compatible with the building's historic landscape.  

Two walls of historic graffiti signatures at the stage area (including Willa Cather's) are retained and protected.

The "opera house" on the second floor retains its original plan, stage area and columns down the center of the house.  Thus, although upgraded technically, its character at Cather's time remains intact.

The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 because of its association with Willa Cather, internationally renowned author from Red Cloud, Nebraska.