Multifaceted school is sizing up Town Center location

VIRGINIA BEACH

The Art Institutes, a national private, for-profit chain, is looking at opening a campus in Town Center.

The school offers degree programs in design, fashion and culinary arts.

"We hope to be able to make an announcement in the first quarter of 2009," said Mark Toth, spokesman for new schools with Education Management Corp., the Pittsburgh-based parent company of The Art Institutes.

Toth declined to talk about the possible Virginia Beach campus until the company receives licenses and approvals from regulatory agencies.

The school would be located in Columbus Tower, at the intersection of Constitution Drive and Main Street, according to the agenda of the city's Planning Commission.

The Art Institutes could take up two floors of the building, with enrollment expected to grow to 516 students, according to the city's planning report.

Armada Hoffler, Town Center's developer, has asked the city for a conditional-use permit for the facility. The request is on the commission's Nov. 12 agenda.

Officials with Armada Hoffler and Divaris Real Estate Inc. declined to comment.

The Art Institutes system has 40 locations across the country, according to its Web site.

Town Center is already home to a Strayer University campus and Hampton University College of Virginia Beach.

Deirdre Fernandes, (757) 222-5121, deirdre.fernandes@pilotonline.com