The IKEA store will be transformed into an art center

A landmark building in the city will become home to a collection of art after renovations.

In February 2020, it was announced that IKEA was closing its store in Coventry, the U.K., after several years of losses. The store had been in operation since 2007 and was the only central IKEA retail space in the U.K. built in a business part of a major city.

The seven-story downtown building, which is already one of Coventry's landmarks, could get a second life. Local authorities consider reorganizing the former Swedish retailer's store into a modern structure that would be home to a cultural project of significance to the entire community.



It is envisioned that the structure could be used to create an art center that would showcase art collections and host a variety of social and cultural events. The plan is to exhibit some of the best-known art from around the country and provide greater access for the local community to the region's cultural and heritage collections. 

According to Coventry City Council, the project will be a "lasting physical, economic and cultural legacy." The council has already submitted the new project's first renderings, and a final vote on its fate will take place on Feb. 23. The purchase and reorganization of the building will be a multimillion-dollar project, according to officials. Still, exact figures for the cost of the work have not yet been released.  

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